Reports in the UK press are claiming that cameras at petrol stations will automatically stop uninsured or untaxed vehicles from being filled with fuel, under proposed new government plans.
Downing Street officials hope the hi-tech system will crack down on the 1.4million motorists who drive without insurance.
Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are already fitted in thousands of petrol station forecourts.
Drivers can only fill their cars with fuel once the camera has captured and logged the vehicle’s number plate. Currently the system is designed to deter motorists from driving off without paying for petrol. But under the new plans, the cameras will automatically cross-refererence the details with the DVLA’s huge database.
Under these proposals when an uninsured motorist tries to fill up the pump would automatically switch off with an alert flashed to traffic cops. PM David Cameron believes the crackdown would force uninsured motorists off the road as they would not dare to fill up. A senior government source said: “Most garages have the technology. It’s just a case of adapting it
The proposals will have a huge impact – forcing drivers to insure and tax their car if they want to drive. One in 25 drivers in the UK do not have insurance – one of the worst records in western Europe.
According to recent figures, around 160 people are killed and 23,000 injured by uninsured and untraced drivers every year. Their behaviour costs claims firms up to £500million a year and adds £30 on average to every annual premium
Downing Street officials are due to meet representatives from the major fuel companies in the next few weeks to discuss the idea.
But some petrol retailers said the proposals were a “step too far” – claiming they put cashiers at risk.
Brian Madderson, from RMI Petrol, which represents independent petrol stations, said: “Staff are already getting stick from motorists for high fuel prices.
“This proposal will increase the potential for conflict. Our cashiers are not law enforcers.” Clearly this is not as straight forward as it might seem at first, but it will be interesting to see if it can be developed into a practical solution to reducing untaxed and uninsured motoring.