Why is driving uninsured such a big deal?

Why is driving uninsured such a big deal?

Author
Discussion

FlynnFlynn

Original Poster:

11 posts

106 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
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!!!

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
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...

billzeebub

3,862 posts

198 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
half term is really dragging

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
billzeebub said:
half term is really dragging
Yep. Only day two.

timbo999

1,287 posts

254 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
And then you hit someone who requires round the clock care for life as a result of your actions...
Or put a budding Premier League footballer in a wheel chair and he sues you for the loss of his lifetime earnings?

vanordinaire

3,701 posts

161 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Is it just me or are the trolls looking younger all the time.

Condi

17,089 posts

170 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
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.

Monkeylegend

26,227 posts

230 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Your first attempt at PH in 2011 didn't go too well. Guess which way your second attempt is heading wink

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
Your first attempt at PH in 2011 didn't go too well. Guess which way your second attempt is heading wink
hehe

daytona365

1,773 posts

163 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
I don't agree with the gist of this argument except for ''What is wrong with a slap on the wrist like in the good old common sense days and being escorted home''.........Alas, their is no common sense any more, only jealousy and greed.

sidaorb

5,589 posts

205 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
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.
scratchchin

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.

MJK 24

5,648 posts

235 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
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!

Monkeylegend

26,227 posts

230 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Why are posters so determined to feed?

dacouch

1,172 posts

128 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
You need to buy liability insurance in America, the minimum level is set in each state and is amazingly low

daytona365

1,773 posts

163 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Of course the ambulance chasing legal thieves have a large part to play in the ever upwards insurance premium situation......Oh, and rip off garages who are happy to rebuild a car for a scratched bumper.

wemorgan

3,578 posts

177 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
why is anyone taking this thread seriously?

Spanna

3,732 posts

175 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
£200, 6 points. It's hardly over the top and on paper should be a good deterrent.


Negative Creep

24,942 posts

226 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
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.

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
OP is a moron.

It's a shame that deleting people from the gene pool is frowned upon.

Condi

17,089 posts

170 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
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.