Insurers urge clampdown on uninsured drivers

Insurance companies have urged The Barbados Police Service to go after uninsured drivers, who they say are frequently involved in road accidents across the island.

Chief Executive Officer of Co-Operators General Insurance, Anton Lovell, issued this appeal as a new Road Traffic Accident Investigation Policy was unveiled on Wednesday. The policy, a collaboration between the police and insurance companies, is designed to streamline responses to road incidents.

Under the new policy, police officers will only respond to fatal accidents or those involving serious injuries, while minor accidents will be handled by insurance agents. Lovell endorsed the initiative but highlighted the persistent issue of uninsured drivers, urging law enforcement to act swiftly to address the problem.

“I would like to encourage the Commissioner of Police, the Licensing Authority and so on to move quickly now to arrest this situation because it will cause problems with this new initiative,” Lovell said. “Further, going beyond the uninsured motorists, even where there are serious accidents [or not], we would like when police officers come upon these uninsured motorists that these vehicles be towed away and impounded.”

He emphasised the need for robust action, warning that without such measures, uninsured vehicles could be moved from accident scenes and continue to pose a threat elsewhere. 

“We have to get to that stage. If that does not occur, people will move their uninsured vehicles, and cause further accidents up the street or wherever they go,” he added.

Barbados recorded nearly 7 000 road accidents last year, with many involving uninsured drivers. Lovell suggested that stronger enforcement would act as a deterrent, encouraging compliance with the law.

“It would send a strong message to persons when this occurs, that you need by law to have your vehicle insured at least under third-party cover,” he said. 

(SB)