Recent data from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) highlights Birmingham as one of the UK’s most problematic areas for uninsured driving. Four Birmingham postcodes have been named among the top 15 worst offenders nationwide, emphasizing a significant concern in the city and the wider West Midlands region.
Across the West Midlands, five postcodes appeared on the MIB’s list, accounting for 43 claims against uninsured drivers over a two-year period. More broadly, the West Midlands recorded 324 claims related to uninsured driving during the same timeframe.
Leading the list is the RM19 postcode in Thurrock, followed closely by Birmingham’s B25 postcode area. Other Birmingham postcodes such as B18, B21, and B35 also feature prominently in the rankings.
READ MORE: Universal Credit Sanctions More Punitive Than Court Fines, Report Reveals
READ MORE: Headteacher Cautions Against Prioritizing Cost Over Quality in SEND Education
The MIB compiled this list by analyzing two years of claim data, ranking areas by defendants per 1,000 population:
- RM19 – Thurrock
- B25 – Birmingham
- B18 – Birmingham
- PE1 – Peterborough
- B66 – Sandwell
- RM1 – Havering
- B21 – Birmingham
- M18 – Manchester
- B35 – Birmingham
- BT17 – Belfast
- IG7 – Epping Forest
- BT13 – Belfast
- HP18 – Buckinghamshire
- BD7 – Bradford
- LU1 – Luton
Uninsured driving carries a heavy economic impact in the UK, costing approximately £1 billion annually. This includes expenses related to victim compensation, emergency services, medical treatment, and lost productivity.
MIB stresses that combating uninsured driving not only improves road safety but also helps ease the financial strain on taxpayers. A spokesperson from MIB noted that an uninsured vehicle is seized every four minutes across the UK, with over 6,700 vehicles seized so far this year in the West Midlands alone.
The release of this data coincides with the launch of the annual ‘Operation Drive Insured’ campaign, which runs until November 16. This week-long safety initiative partners with UK police forces to proactively remove uninsured vehicles from the roads and educate motorists about common errors that can lead to uninsured driving.
Local road policing units are increasing spot checks in problem areas using MIB’s data to focus enforcement efforts. The campaign aims to reduce uninsured driving rates and promote safer communities across the UK.