Surge in number of uninsured drivers

A GROWING number of motorists are no longer renewing their car insurance policies because of worsening economic conditions, according to a senior insurance executive.

The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) has revealed there was a 26% increase in the number of reported accidents involving uninsured drivers in the Republic last year.

The MIBI – which handles all insurance claims for traffic accidents involving cars driven by uninsured, foreign and hit-and-run drivers – was notified of 1,573 collisions involving uninsured drivers in 2008, an increase of 328 on the previous year.