Norwich Union is backing a scheme which aims to crack down on uninsured motorists.
Norwich Union is backing a scheme which aims to crack down on uninsured motorists.
The Motor Industry Database is an industry-wide initiative, which will include the insurance details of every driver. The police will be able to access this information at the roadside in order to assess immediately whether a vehicle is insured. This is achieved via radio to a control room, or a handheld terminal linked to the police national computer, which is connected to the database.
It is estimated that one in 20 motor vehicles on the road is uninsured, costing the insurance industry Ł400 million every year. Through increased premiums, policyholders can end up compensating innocent victims because of cheating motorists. Personal injury claims have dramatically escalated in the last ten years – from Ł39 million in 1991 to a projected Ł260 million by the end of 2001*.
Richard Dale, head of product planning and management information at the UK’s largest insurer, comments: “This national database is a great achievement, with all insurers pulling together to provide the police with accurate data.
“The honest motorist can pay between Ł15 and Ł30 extra in insurance premium because of uninsured drivers. Together with increased fines imposed by police on offending motorists, the database should act as a deterrent for motorists to go without insurance.”
So far Norwich Union has sent around 10 million records to the database, and as people buy and sell vehicles, updates will be sent through daily.
Media contact:
Jenny Chapman or Liz Nicholson at Norwich Union on 08703 666864
Notes to editors:
* Source: Motor Insurance Bureau
- Norwich Union Insurance Limited Registered in England Number 99122 Registered Office 8 Surrey Street Norwich NR1 3NG
- Member of the General Insurance Standards Council
- CGU plc and Norwich Union plc merged on 30 May 2000 to create CGNU plc, the UK’s largest insurance group and one of the top-five insurers in Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world’s sixth largest insurer based on gross worldwide premiums.
- CGNU’s principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide premium income and retail investment sales from ongoing business of over Ł27 billion and assets under management of more than Ł200 billion
- From October 2000, the combined life and pensions, general insurance and retail fund management businesses in the UK operate under the Norwich Union brand, while the institutional investment business operates under the Morley Fund Management brand.
- Norwich Union’s news releases are available on this site
- A selection of images are available from the CGNU Newscast site at www.newscast.co.uk
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