Fewer motorists are driving without a valid licence, insurance or MOT, according to results released following a joint police and government operation.

Compared to a similar operation in 2006, the level of drivers stopped without valid vehicle tax and the level of those stopped without a valid licence fell by half.

In addition, the level of vehicles stopped without a current MOT fell to 1.5% from 4.2% and the number of uninsured drivers stopped fell from 1.9% to 1.2%.

"Uninsured drivers add £30 a year to every motorist's insurance premium and it is estimated that uninsured and untraced drivers kill 160 people and injure 23,000 every year,” said road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick.

Police have been given increased powers to detect, seize and destroy vehicles being driven without insurance, which resulted in 170,000 vehicles being removed in 2007.

"But we know we need to do more which is why we are introducing a new offence of being the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle which will leave uninsured drivers with nowhere to hide," said Mr Fitzpatrick.

Fifty-two police forces participated in Operation V79, in which 6,689 vehicles were stopped randomly over a 24-hour period.