Blackburn uninsured driver convictions rise 19% year-on-year

The news comes as Freedom of Information (FOI) data shows uninsured driver conviction rates are up a staggering 251 per cent since 2019.

Three times more motorists were convicted of driving without insurance in 2023, versus pre-Covid (2019), with one in 50 convicted of the offence in the UK’s worst affected areas.

FOI data gathered by vehicle telematics experts at iCompario revealed that in 2019, 15,227 UK drivers received an uninsured driver conviction (known as an IN10).

Last year this rose to a staggering 51,857 convictions – an increase of 251 per cent.

The data also showed large rises in convictions in some specific areas such as Blackburn and Blackpool.

Convictions in Blackburn rose by 19 per cent year-on-year, while in Blackpool that year-on-year increase was 12 per cent.

A crash scene from January 2024 in Blackburn in which Hasnain Choudry was the uninsured driver (Image: Lancs Police)

In 2019 in Blackburn there were 139 convictions for motorists driving without insurance.

This rose to 1,250 in 2020; then dropped to 1,006 in 2021; increased again to 1,194 in 2022; and dropped to just 538 in 2023.

Overall, since 2019, there have been 4,127 convictions for motorists driving without insurance in Blackburn.

This means one in every 80 drivers in the town has been convicted of the offence since 2019.

In Blackpool the total number of drivers convicted of driving without insurance since 2019 is 2,005.

High insurance is the most likely cause of the increase in convictions as the average car insurance cover has risen by 67 per cent in the last year – leading motoring experts to fear that more Brits will risk driving without cover in 2024.

However, driving without insurance convictions often go hand-in-hand with other offences, such as dangerous driving, drug driving, drink driving, and driving without a valid licence. 

The number of convictions varied a lot more during the in-between Covid years, with travel behaviour heavily affected by the various lockdowns.

Hasnain Choudry (Image: Lancs Police)

Recently, in Blackburn, and the wider East Lancashire area, there have been several examples of crashes and police chases which have involved uninsured motorists.

Last week, Hasnain Choudry was jailed for dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

And in January, Anthony Monaghan was jailed for various motoring offences, including driving with no insurance, with a judge describing him as a "menace on the roads".

Earlier in February a driver in Burnley was reported after driving without insurance for months.

While in January a 19-year-old was reported for summons after police caught him driving an Audi A3 which was insured in a 42-year-old's name.

Blackburn magistrates heard Anthony Monaghan faced two sets of driving offences committed just a month apart (Image: Lancs Police)

What does the law say?

Driving without any insurance cover is a criminal offence, and the police advise that those caught face a minimum of a £300 fixed penalty fine and six penalty points.

If the case goes to court, the licence holder could even get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving.

In some cases, the police also have the power to seize and destroy the vehicle that was being driven uninsured, so the stakes are high.

So, why are convictions for uninsured driving up? Well, the high cost of insurance could be playing a significant role in this.

Experts reported that the average car insurance cover rose by 67 per cent in the last year, with the Association of British Insurers estimating that an annual premium now averages £561.

A survey of 2,000 UK drivers by iCompario also found that a quarter (24 per cent) are considering driving without insurance in 2024, in a bid to save some cash, suggesting even more convictions this year.

What does the data say?

Top 10 UK postcode areas with the biggest annual increase in uninsured driver convictions read as follows from left to right: rank; postcode area; year-on-year increase in uninsured driver convictions.

1. Torquay; +35%
2. Northampton; +34%
3. Llandrindod Wells; +33%
4. Kilmarnock; +27%
5. Harrogate; +21%
6. Halifax; +21%
7. Blackburn; +19%
8. Guildford; +18%
9. Truro; +14%
10. Blackpool; +12%

When comparing the number of licence holders with the convictions, Ilford in East London, came out on top, with the highest rate of convicted motorists – at one in fifty (over the past four years).

Bradford in West Yorkshire (one in 57 licence holders), and Romford in East London (one in 64) are also ‘no insurance’ hotspots.

Blackburn had one in 80, and Blackpool one in 89. 

Ten 10 UK postcode areas with the highest rate of convicted uninsured drivers (2019-2023) reads from left to right: rank; postcode area; rate of uninsured drivers (e.g., one in X local licence holders have been convicted)

1. Ilford (IG); 53
2. Bradford (BD); 57
3. Romford (RM); 64
4. Luton (LU); 66
5. Southall (UB); 68
6. Northampton (NN); 69
7. East London (E); 69
8. North London(N); 70
9. Wakefield (WF); 71
10. Croydon (CR); 72

What do the experts say?

Spokesperson for iCompario, Andrew Davies, said: “The fact that tens of thousands of drivers are risking a criminal record, penalty points, and financial strife for themselves and anyone they could potentially be involved in an accident with, is deeply alarming.

“Rising car insurance costs couple with rising living costs across the board are a potential worry, as it would be very problematic if the rate of uninsured drivers on UK roads were to increase in the coming months and years.

“We would urge UK motorists to shop around for the best possible car insurance deal, and to avoid making a bad decision that they are likely to regret by driving without proper third-party cover.”

Lancashire Police have been contacted for comment.

For more information, please visit: https://www.icompario.com/en-gb/guides/uninsured-driver-statistics/