More drivers hitting the road without license
The rising cost of car insurance has spawned the latest threat to Britain’s roads; license-less drivers.
This message from insurance comparers Confused.com which recently carried out research that found 1 in 5 learners can’t afford to pay for their driving test while 13% wouldn’t be able to pay to have their motor insured.
Perhaps more concerning, 1 in 8 respondents claimed they personally know someone driving around without a valid license.
Figures from the Department for Transport seem to support this. The number of practical driving tests being taken has slipped from 1,762,148 in 2008 to 1,605,599 in 2010 with the number taken April and August 2011 is down by 5% on the same period last year.
Shocking trend
Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com, said: “A new shocking trend is emerging where people no longer bother taking their driving test.
“As the price of car insurance increases, we are seeing that the rate of people taking driving tests is falling.
“This is worrying as its suggests not only that drivers are going to be tempted to drive uninsured but now they might be tempted to not even take their driving test in the first place.”
With DfT revealing that the UK road network currently holds over 28.5m cars, Mr Kloet stressed that people should maintain a safe and informed approach to driving; a knowledge gained only through passing a proper driving test coupled with adequate car insurance.
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