Recent research from Co-operative Insurance has revealed that fraudulent and uninsured drivers are costing responsible motorists £1.25 billion annually.

The insurance company found that policy holders are paying £50 extra each year – roughly the equivalent of 52 days of insurance cover - to subsidise the costs of claims made by fraudsters and other non-insured drivers.

Younger road users were found to be the most likely to be uninsured or driving an unsafe vehicle - a shocking 25 per cent of drivers aged 21 and under admitted they had driven without a license, an MOT-checked vehicle or a valid driving license.

Not only are irresponsible motorists wreaking havoc with insurance payments, but also – far more importantly – with people's lives. Over 23,000 people are injured or killed each year by those who are driving illegally.

Tim Franklin, CEO of The Co-operative Financial Services said, “Millions of people are deliberately flouting the law by not insuring their cars at massive cost to honest road users and the wider insurance industry posing an unnecessary and unjustified risk.

"Whilst work is continuing to be done to highlight the dangers of uninsured drivers and keep them off the UK's public highways by police, road safety groups and the insurance industry, there is clearly more to be done,” he added.

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