Compulsory Insurance

The Motorcycle Action Group warns riders that they could be prosecuted for failing to insure motorcycles that are parked on a driveway or kept in a garage if proposals from the Department for Transport (DfT) are approved.

If approved, a new offence, possession of a vehicle without valid insurance will enable the police to access the records of insurers and effect automated fines by default for vehicles not kept on the public high way unless the vehicle keeper has declared Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).

While MAG recognise that uninsured motorists represent a serious threat to us all, in effect this proposal will force by law persons to pay insurance for “on road risk cover” for a vehicle that is off road where there is no risk and therefore no legal cover required.

Effectively the Government will assume that riders have been driving uninsured and punish the honest rider for crimes they have not committed, yet the irony is it won’t make a shred of difference to those who choose to be outside the law.

There is a further issue of substantial time delays between the payment of insurance premiums and the updating of insurers’ records, the Motor Insurers’ Database (MID) with detection enhanced by the expanded use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology linked to relevant databases such as the MID.

This will need to be addressed to prevent default prosecution of the completely innocent.

A fair price for third party insurance is a reasonable objective both for government and for the motorcycling community. MAG believes that the most effective way to discourage uninsured driving is to take steps to provide basic Third Party Only cover properly regulated by Government.

MAG is seeking clarification of the proposals and is closely involved in the consultation process in an effort to arrive at a formulae that satisfies justice and is proportionate to the problem.

Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

LOVE IS GIVING SOMEONE THE ABILITY TO DESTROY YOU, THEN TRUSTING THEM NOT TO.