A New Scheme For Bikers’ Insurance
Tired of being confronted with bikers flouting the law, other law enforcement agencies are considering adopting the scheme. In particular they are tired of encountering young residents of housing estates who believe that by riding their scooters within their estate perimeters, they are beyond the reach of the law, or who feel that riding on the estate does not pose a risk to themselves or others and thus consider purchasing insurance a waste of money and too much of a bother.
Sergeant Nigel Nevard of Kent Police noted: “We have spoken to a number of riders coming into North Kent. We are sending them a clear message that we will not tolerate their behavior and will seize their bikes when we catch them.”
Statistics from the Department of Transport have indicated that 6.5% of motorcycle owners failed to pay tax and insurance for 2007.
This lack of coverage was even higher than 9.8% – for so-called “active stock.” These are bikes which are not used on roads but which are liable for tax under the rules. Active stock includes those bikes used mainly for display or shows, but which are brought out on the road when they are ridden to their destination. No other group of road users has a higher rate of non-coverage, a major failing that endangers other road users.
These vehicle owners are avoiding all insurance, including liability, which is a requirement in all states and lack of this or any insurance is a crime. Children are also receiving high powered vehicles as gifts from their parents. These inexpensive vehicles, including power scooters, mini-motorbikes, and quad bikes, can easily travel forty miles an hour. Some of these motor vehicles can exceed 60 miles per hour.
ROSPA has noted that the estimated ten-fold increase in sales of such bikes since 2002 “which are invitingly low-cost and can be bought online” has only exacerbated the problem.
People do not understand that if the vehicle is at any time driving on the road it is in danger of being hit or of hitting someone else. Just because the vehicle was relatively cheap or is primarily used in some other action than road driving it is just as likely to be in an accident. These problems increases since the machine manufacturers often underemphasis the needed safety precautions of their vehicles. The message must be heard. Know your vehicle as it pertains to the law. Insure those vehicles which fall under the third party coverage law. This will save you a lot of time and money not to mention bike seizures and criminal records.
