Why is driving uninsured such a big deal?
Discussion
Here's something that has always infuriated me-the overreaction to driving without insurance. I know a lot of people here are very well to do well off posh gits born with silver spoons in their mouths, but most of us mere mortals are struggling to get by working minimum wage jobs on zero hours contracts.
Now don't get me wrong here, I know if you knock someone else's vehicle whilst uninsured it causes some hassle etc, but is it really necessary to stop someone by the roadside and not even let them drive home? And why the draconian measures?
If you are caught you face half your license points allowance taken up, a massive fine and your vehicle impounded.
How the juddery fk is that proportionate???
What is wrong with a slap on the wrist like in the good old common sense days and being escorted home (so that you don't carry on driving without insurance) to sort it out or declare the car SORN?
I don't like how brutal the nanny state is to ordinary citizens, criminalising them for trivial offences.
In America, Australia and New Zealand you don't even need insurance legally. It is wrong that it is a legal requirement when the real crime is the rates the companies charge. They make huge profits, I have 6 years NCB now and that is thousands of pounds since I was 19 for nothing other than some bullst arse legal requirement.
If an American was stopped for no insurance in this country I bet he would give the plod a right old piece of his mind, Aussies and Kiwis would be too chilled out to care though.
You might ask what has sparked this rant well it was reading this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
But it has been brewing for awhile, ever since trying to get insured on my old man's car when I was 17 and seeing quotes of 3k for learning in a 2 litre non turbo diesel 1993 Toyota Corolla.
So I say let's march on the insurance companies HQ and burn them to the ground!!!
Now don't get me wrong here, I know if you knock someone else's vehicle whilst uninsured it causes some hassle etc, but is it really necessary to stop someone by the roadside and not even let them drive home? And why the draconian measures?
If you are caught you face half your license points allowance taken up, a massive fine and your vehicle impounded.
How the juddery fk is that proportionate???
What is wrong with a slap on the wrist like in the good old common sense days and being escorted home (so that you don't carry on driving without insurance) to sort it out or declare the car SORN?
I don't like how brutal the nanny state is to ordinary citizens, criminalising them for trivial offences.
In America, Australia and New Zealand you don't even need insurance legally. It is wrong that it is a legal requirement when the real crime is the rates the companies charge. They make huge profits, I have 6 years NCB now and that is thousands of pounds since I was 19 for nothing other than some bullst arse legal requirement.
If an American was stopped for no insurance in this country I bet he would give the plod a right old piece of his mind, Aussies and Kiwis would be too chilled out to care though.
You might ask what has sparked this rant well it was reading this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
But it has been brewing for awhile, ever since trying to get insured on my old man's car when I was 17 and seeing quotes of 3k for learning in a 2 litre non turbo diesel 1993 Toyota Corolla.
So I say let's march on the insurance companies HQ and burn them to the ground!!!
FlynnFlynn said:
Here's something that has always infuriated me-the overreaction to driving without insurance. I know a lot of people here are very well to do well off posh gits born with silver spoons in their mouths, but most of us mere mortals are struggling to get by working minimum wage jobs on zero hours contracts.
Now don't get me wrong here, I know if you knock someone else's vehicle whilst uninsured it causes some hassle etc, but is it really necessary to stop someone by the roadside and not even let them drive home? And why the draconian measures?
If you are caught you face half your license points allowance taken up, a massive fine and your vehicle impounded.
How the juddery fk is that proportionate???
What is wrong with a slap on the wrist like in the good old common sense days and being escorted home (so that you don't carry on driving without insurance) to sort it out or declare the car SORN?
I don't like how brutal the nanny state is to ordinary citizens, criminalising them for trivial offences.
In America, Australia and New Zealand you don't even need insurance legally. It is wrong that it is a legal requirement when the real crime is the rates the companies charge. They make huge profits, I have 6 years NCB now and that is thousands of pounds since I was 19 for nothing other than some bullst arse legal requirement.
If an American was stopped for no insurance in this country I bet he would give the plod a right old piece of his mind, Aussies and Kiwis would be too chilled out to care though.
You might ask what has sparked this rant well it was reading this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
But it has been brewing for awhile, ever since trying to get insured on my old man's car when I was 17 and seeing quotes of 3k for learning in a 2 litre non turbo diesel 1993 Toyota Corolla.
So I say let's march on the insurance companies HQ and burn them to the ground!!!
And then you hit someone who requires round the clock care for life as a result of your actions...Now don't get me wrong here, I know if you knock someone else's vehicle whilst uninsured it causes some hassle etc, but is it really necessary to stop someone by the roadside and not even let them drive home? And why the draconian measures?
If you are caught you face half your license points allowance taken up, a massive fine and your vehicle impounded.
How the juddery fk is that proportionate???
What is wrong with a slap on the wrist like in the good old common sense days and being escorted home (so that you don't carry on driving without insurance) to sort it out or declare the car SORN?
I don't like how brutal the nanny state is to ordinary citizens, criminalising them for trivial offences.
In America, Australia and New Zealand you don't even need insurance legally. It is wrong that it is a legal requirement when the real crime is the rates the companies charge. They make huge profits, I have 6 years NCB now and that is thousands of pounds since I was 19 for nothing other than some bullst arse legal requirement.
If an American was stopped for no insurance in this country I bet he would give the plod a right old piece of his mind, Aussies and Kiwis would be too chilled out to care though.
You might ask what has sparked this rant well it was reading this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
But it has been brewing for awhile, ever since trying to get insured on my old man's car when I was 17 and seeing quotes of 3k for learning in a 2 litre non turbo diesel 1993 Toyota Corolla.
So I say let's march on the insurance companies HQ and burn them to the ground!!!
FlynnFlynn said:
In America, Australia and New Zealand you don't even need insurance legally.
Having lived in 2 of the 3 countries mentioned, I promise you that is 100% not true. Their traffic police stop and check car far more regularly than they do here, and the punishments for driving without are much greater.
FlynnFlynn said:
But it has been brewing for awhile, ever since trying to get insured on my old man's car when I was 17 and seeing quotes of 3k for learning in a 2 litre non turbo diesel 1993 Toyota Corolla.
Now could that be because so many uninsured drivers on the road have pushed premiums up.
If you can't offered to insure it, you can't afford to drive it.
At 17 I was paying over £1,000 for my third party insurance and that was 30 years ago and no silver spoon or family wealth paid for that, just hard work and a desire to drive a nice car at 17.
I've just spent a few months in NZ. You're correct in saying that there's no legal requirement for third party insurance cover. However, should you have an accident that is deemed to be your fault, and you don't have insurance, the third parties insurers will take you to court to recover their losses. This can lead to people being forced by the courts to sell assets - ie their home!
MJK 24 said:
I've just spent a few months in NZ. You're correct in saying that there's no legal requirement for third party insurance cover. However, should you have an accident that is deemed to be your fault, and you don't have insurance, the third parties insurers will take you to court to recover their losses. This can lead to people being forced by the courts to sell assets - ie their home!
and insurance is so cheap there you'd be daft not to. I'm not condoning it but I bet there are a lot of people on the road with invalid insurance, intentional or not. MJK 24 said:
I've just spent a few months in NZ. You're correct in saying that there's no legal requirement for third party insurance cover. However, should you have an accident that is deemed to be your fault, and you don't have insurance, the third parties insurers will take you to court to recover their losses. This can lead to people being forced by the courts to sell assets - ie their home!
Thats not true. Your road licence contains a 3rd party insurance cost, which covers personal injury for anyone you hit. You need that by law. Any damage to other vehicles/property can be reclaimed from the at fault party - which, as you say, can lead to many thousand dollar claims. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff