CHRIS BISHOP Deaths and injuries on the roads have fallen in West Norfolk and Breckland after police began confiscating uninsured vehicles.

CHRIS BISHOP

Deaths and injuries on the roads have fallen in West Norfolk and Breckland after police began confiscating uninsured vehicles.

Figures for fatal and serious injury accidents have seen a year on year fall of 3pc to 98 for the period between April and October. The numbers have been less than figures forecast each month since September.

Insp Julian Moulton, western area head of road policing, said: “Any death or serious injury on our roads is tragic. Operations carried out by road policing officers and partner agencies, however unpopular, are intended to prevent people needlessly losing their lives and their families suffering.

“At this time of year we traditionally see an increase in the number of people killed or seriously injured. The fact that numbers have decreased each month since we launched the operation to target uninsured drivers reflects the success of the scheme - and we will continue to target illegal motorists through a variety of means to make our roads even safer.”

New laws give police the power to seize any uninsured or unlicensed vehicle and impound it until the driver pays a fine. In the first month of the operation 51 vehicles were seized in West Norfolk and Breckland alone, with £15,000 in fines and recovery charges recouped and put back into national coffers.

Police officers have access to the Motor Insurers Bureau to quickly determine whether a vehicle is insured or not. Illegal vehicles are seized and impounded until the correct documentation can be produced and the driver pays the cumulative storage costs, starting at £105. Along with roadside checks, the Automated Number Plate Recognition system (ANPR), a national database of vehicle details, is also deployed regularly across Norfolk to check for illegal vehicles on the road.

Insp Moulton said: “Those who drive illegally on our roads often go on to commit road traffic offences leading to serious and fatal collisions.”

To report illegal drivers call the Norfolk Constabulary switchboard on 0845 456 4567.