Measures to crack down on uninsured drivers were tabled by the government yesterday as amendments to the road safety bill. It will be an offence to own a car which is uninsured or not registered as off the road. Police will prosecute uninsured motorists using a database of all registered vehicles.

The road safety minister, Stephen Ladyman, said: "We estimate that every law-abiding motorist pays £30 a year because of uninsured drivers. This new measure will be coupled with new police powers to electronically spot and ultimately to seize and destroy cars without insurance."