Insurance company backs government initiative

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

Saga, the insurance and travel company for the over 50s, has supported the government crackdown on uninsured drivers.

The company has said that uninsured drivers are placing an "unfair burden" on the drivers it insures, claiming that most come from outside the company's target group.

Saga was happy to hear the Department for Transport announcement on Friday that it would now be an offence to own a car that is neither insured nor registered as off the road.

"We welcome this change in the law, paying for uninsured drivers is a burden for all honest road users, but it is particularly unfair for drivers aged fifty and over," said Paul Green.

The government measures mean those that have an uninsured car that is not registered as off the road can expect to be fined and "ultimately have their cars crushed".

Saga says that less than four per cent of those convicted for uninsured driving are over 50 years old, and that it is thus unfair that drivers in this age group should field an even share of the insurance costs.

If split by age group, the additional insurance cost to the Saga motorist would be just £2.08, compared with £45.70 for the under 50s.