Sussex Police are embracing a new roadside check system to crackdown on the growing number of motorists driving without insurance.

They will be able to punch registrations into hand-held or patrol-car terminals which will show whether the vehicles' registered owners are insured.

Offenders face eight penalty points and £2,000 fines.

Inspector Andy Rooke, head of traffic in Haywards Heath, said: "They cause absolute misery when they are involved in accidents.

"Injured parties can claim compensation from the insurance industry but payouts are minimal and do not cover vehicle damage.

"The innocent can end up losing their homes and living on benefits. This system could prevent a lot of this hardship by encouraging the uninsured to get insured or not drive."

Mobile data terminals can tap into the Police National Computer so officers can instantly see whether vehicles are stolen, have current excise licences and whether drivers are wanted.

Information on the vast majority of insured drivers throughout the UK could be added to the computer by July.

Mr Rooke said: "We deal with two or three accidents a month involving an uninsured driver.

"Sussex Police very much welcome this new initiative."

Five per cent of UK drivers are uninsured, one of the highest rates in Western Europe.

One theory is that unlike in France or Ireland, UK vehicles do not have to display insurance stickers.

The new insurance database, carrying virtually every vehicle insurance policy in the country, is being co-ordinated by the Motor Insurers' Information Centre, established by the insurance industry.

Gabrielle Hinton, spokeswoman for the centre, accepted some critics might see the new system as an invasion of privacy but she said most people would support it.

She said the cost of claims associated with uninsured driving was escalating every year and had to be met by the "honest motorist" who paid an average of £15 to £30 each year towards this cost.