Insurance premiums for drivers in some parts of Bradford are ridiculously high.

Even if the £5,000-plus quote cited in this newspaper today is at the far end of the scale, it is indicative of the sort of treatment people in certain areas have come to expect from some insurance companies.

What is particularly galling for the law-abiding motorist is that they can do little or nothing about this.

In many cases, premiums are based not on their driving record, or their choice of vehicle, but on their postcode.

So short of moving house, they just have to pay up.

One reason for these sky-high costs is the fact there are many uninsured motorists in certain Bradford postcodes, and they are said to push up premiums for their neighbours.

To improve the situation, these rogues must be driven off our roads, something the public undoubtedly wants to see happen.

The police have mounted a number of successful operations to tackle uninsured drivers recently, and this sort of action must be stepped up.

The courts must also dispense meaningful, tougher punishments.

At present, fines for driving without insurance can be less than the cost of insurance itself, which simply cannot be right.

Insurance companies, too, could help law-abiding motorists by putting more emphasis on people’s individual circumstances and driving history and less on where they live.

After all, a driver with no claims for five years must be doing something right, regardless of their address.