Figures released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) have revealed the number of 17 to 20-year-olds estimated to be driving without insurance has decreased by half over the past three years.

In 2008, based on claims submitted to the MIB, it was estimated the same age group 17 to 20-year-olds made up about a quarter of a million of uninsured motorists, compared to half that amount at present.

The overall number of uninsured motorists on UK roads has significantly declined and can be attributed to on-road policing and the introduction of the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) law. The scheme was introduced last year and tackles vehicle keepers with no insurance in place by cross-checking the DVLA database with the Motor Insurance Database.

Anyone who appears to have no insurance will receive a warning letter, followed by a series of escalating penalties. There are currently estimated to be a total 1.2 million uninsured motorists on our roads, of which one in 10 are young drivers.

Ashton West, chief executive at MIB, said: “Whilst the overall number of uninsured motorists in the UK is decreasing and there is a very welcome drop amongst young drivers, there is still much work to be done.

“There are more than a million drivers under the age of 20 on our roads, and having insurance in place is crucial to protect inexperienced young drivers and other motorists. Uninsured driving adds £30 per policy per year to the cost of insurance premiums, resulting in £400m a year in costs to the industry. “