LAW-ABIDING motorists have seen their insurance bills rocket in the past couple of years. On average car insurance is rising at five times the rate of inflation and the average annual premium is more than £700.

Insurers blame rising premiums on tax changes, higher claims and, inevitably, losses caused by uninsured drivers.

Every legitimate motorist is paying a price for drivers who choose to drive without insurance.

We know that premiums are punitively high for young drivers – but that can never be an excuse for getting behind the wheel of an uninsured vehicle.

Besides, as we reveal today, some uninsured drivers are swanning around in luxury cars worth hundreds of thousands – the kind of dream cars most of us can only aspire to own. Money clearly isn’t the problem if you can afford the repayments on a Rolls-Royce or a Lamborghini – arrogance most certainly is.

We need an urgent review of the penalties courts can levy on drivers caught without insurance. The consequences of an accident with an uninsured car are horrendous, so the deterrent needs to be suitably tough.

The staggering number of cars impounded shows how seriously West Yorkshire Police takes this issue. The Government needs to give the courts the firepower to punish these irresponsible individuals where it hurts: in their wallets.

No one wants to pay more than they have to, but if you have an accident you will be glad to know that your costs will be covered. Every driver has a legal, as well as moral, responsibility to make sure they are insured.