RE: Flog 'em or Help 'em?
Wednesday 11th August 2004
Flog 'em or Help 'em?
Drivers without insurance - financial assistance or jail?
31% of Britain's drivers believe that those who drive without insurance should be 'rehabilitated'. Staggeringly, only 63% thought they should be punished!
This is according to researchby motor insurer Co-operative Insurance Society Limited (CIS).
The aim of the research was to establish the views and attitudes of insured drivers towards those who drive uninsured. The research concentrated on four main areas, attitudes towards uninsured drivers, penalties for driving uninsured, whether those who offend should be punished or rehabilitated and should there be funding in place to help those who offend.
- 35% felt that those who drove without insurance were irresponsible, stupid, a danger and a risk to other road users,
- 12% were firmly of the belief that everyone should be insured,
- 10% felt that they shouldn't be driving
- 8% considered that the innocent driver always losses out.
When asked what their opinions were about appropriate penalties for driving without insurance respondents were of a firm belief that penalties were too lenient, especially for persistent offenders and that existing penalties were not an effective deterrent.
Those who felt that penalties were too lenient were asked what stiffer penalties should be.
- 22% thought that fines should be more in line with insurance costs,
- 20% thought that uninsured drivers should be banned with 14% believing that this should be an automatic ban and 6% believing the ban should be for life,
- 17% thought that uninsured drivers should be sent to jail,
On the issue of whether offenders should be punished or rehabilitated the emphasis was on punishment. Only one third of those questioned believed that offenders should be rehabilitated, with two thirds believing that offenders should definitely be punished in one way or another.
On the subject of funding for uninsured drivers and whether those who offend should be helped financially to obtain future insurance, 14% said that they think some form of financial assistance should be made available.
Discussion
only 8% In the cash hungry New Jersey judicial system, an uninsured driver is treated very leniently. At his first appearance in court he is told to go and get insurance. You would think they would already have done that by then! but no! Once they return with insurance they are then given a minor fine.
The fines are much less than the cost of insurance, absolutely no deterent. Total waste of time.
The fine has to be greater than the cost of insurance for it to work.
The fines are much less than the cost of insurance, absolutely no deterent. Total waste of time.
The fine has to be greater than the cost of insurance for it to work.
The Australian system (unless it has changed in the past 10 years) seems very sensible. Automatic statutory minimum insurance as part of the road tax, which is part of the number plate and renewed each year (so very easy to see who hasn't renewed their plate).
You then take out insurance over and above this if you want, say, fully comprehensive cover.
Caught out one Australian I knew who came over here. Bought a nice car and someone said to him "Blimey! How can you afford to insure that?"
"Nah worries, mate" he replied, "I'm just driving it on the plate"
"The what?"
Seems he was driving around untaxed and uninsured because he thought we had the same thing over here.
You then take out insurance over and above this if you want, say, fully comprehensive cover.
Caught out one Australian I knew who came over here. Bought a nice car and someone said to him "Blimey! How can you afford to insure that?"
"Nah worries, mate" he replied, "I'm just driving it on the plate"
"The what?"
Seems he was driving around untaxed and uninsured because he thought we had the same thing over here.
One thing to consider. This questionaire was held by an insurance company.
If asked the same question by an insurance company, I may pause to consider which answer to give..."Everyone should be insured and all uninsured drivers are scrotes that should be strung up" (true opinion) or "With insurance being so rediculously expensive, I can understand and sympathise with those that can't afford your extortionate rates".
If asked the same question by an insurance company, I may pause to consider which answer to give..."Everyone should be insured and all uninsured drivers are scrotes that should be strung up" (true opinion) or "With insurance being so rediculously expensive, I can understand and sympathise with those that can't afford your extortionate rates".
The insurance companies should have a fixed price for third party insurance for everybody.
Surely the government should put pressure on the insurance companies to do this.
It would be in their interest!
It would wipe out any claims having to go to court
I have seen the premiums some of the younger drives have to pay, so it not surprising that some people decide not to have insurance.
Surely the government should put pressure on the insurance companies to do this.
It would be in their interest!
It would wipe out any claims having to go to court
I have seen the premiums some of the younger drives have to pay, so it not surprising that some people decide not to have insurance.
There should be a three-section window disc: tax, insurance and MOT. You get it at the post office, bringing evidence of insurance and MOT with you. If your car hasn't got one, the Police tow it and can sell it on.
However, I will say that I think insurance is way too high in this country. When you reach a situation where at least half the cars on the road are worth less than their potential insurance costs, something needs to be done to bring the cost down. Unfortunately, this being Bliar's Britain, I'd be checking those winter weather forecasts for Hades for a little while yet.
However, I will say that I think insurance is way too high in this country. When you reach a situation where at least half the cars on the road are worth less than their potential insurance costs, something needs to be done to bring the cost down. Unfortunately, this being Bliar's Britain, I'd be checking those winter weather forecasts for Hades for a little while yet.
A few years ago an uninsured driver ran into the back of dad's cavalier, he had already been banned and got away with both offences, and the repairs had to come out of dad's insurance.
I've just passed my test so I am looking at cars at the minute, for small cars (1 litre), I am looking at about a grand TPF&T, perhaps a solution would be to make insurance more affordable. BTW, I will definitely get insurance, since I am anti uninsured drivers.
I've just passed my test so I am looking at cars at the minute, for small cars (1 litre), I am looking at about a grand TPF&T, perhaps a solution would be to make insurance more affordable. BTW, I will definitely get insurance, since I am anti uninsured drivers.
Is this a trick question? Do i think it is allright for people to be uninsured? No i blummin well don't
Do i think these same people should get some sort of assistance towards paying for their insurance?
No i blummin well don't
Just where do people think this monetry assistance will come from?...
"our bloody premiums!" Is this another one of Tony Blairs ideas to make scumbags top dog?
I would love a type R something or to just own a fast car but i can't afford the insurance so i don't.
Have i missread it or something?
I can just see it now
" look we know they are stupid but lets just do this poll to check"
>> Edited by bilko on Thursday 12th August 13:55
If people ride around without any insurance why not:
1. Send them to prison
2. Give them some REAL community service
3. Ban them from driving for ever
4. Make them watch Eastenders whilst sober..
I'm quite sure if the deterrent was harsh enough then miraculously people would start to insure their vehicles properly.
1. Send them to prison
2. Give them some REAL community service
3. Ban them from driving for ever
4. Make them watch Eastenders whilst sober..
I'm quite sure if the deterrent was harsh enough then miraculously people would start to insure their vehicles properly.
No way should they get support, if they cant afford to insure the car then dont have one simple as that, Punishment should be a lot harsher, not jail but at least a £1500 fine our premiums are already overly high because of these people without insurance im no having hem hike up my premium even more to help them stay on the road. If you cant afford to run a car get on the bloody bus surely thats why we have all these nice bus lanes and everything?
[quote=v8thunder]
However, I will say that I think insurance is way too high in this country. When you reach a situation where at least half the cars on the road are worth less than their potential insurance costs, something needs to be done to bring the cost down. quote]
It's not the cost of your car , it's the cost of the damage your car can do to a bus stp full of people or that Bently Mulsanne you just hypothetically wrote off.
However, I will say that I think insurance is way too high in this country. When you reach a situation where at least half the cars on the road are worth less than their potential insurance costs, something needs to be done to bring the cost down. quote]
It's not the cost of your car , it's the cost of the damage your car can do to a bus stp full of people or that Bently Mulsanne you just hypothetically wrote off.
they nick the car
they drive without a licence
they drive dangerously
they drive without insurance
they kill someone
they get repremanded
they drive again
they kill someone else still not insured or witha licence...
there are some out there that will ALWAYS try to get away without paying
If they can't afford the car and its running costs and the legal stuff to protect the other people o this island THEN THAY SHOULD NOT BE BEHIND A STEERING WHEEL.
Sorry the picture of that little girl killed in Ashington a couple of Christmasses ago is still burnt in my mind.
they drive without a licence
they drive dangerously
they drive without insurance
they kill someone
they get repremanded
they drive again
they kill someone else still not insured or witha licence...
there are some out there that will ALWAYS try to get away without paying
If they can't afford the car and its running costs and the legal stuff to protect the other people o this island THEN THAY SHOULD NOT BE BEHIND A STEERING WHEEL.
Sorry the picture of that little girl killed in Ashington a couple of Christmasses ago is still burnt in my mind.
Gazboy said:
It would help if the insurance for the young wasn't so high. A lad at work, 17 last week, did an intensive driving course and passed earlier this week, cannot insure anything, most insurers he rang wouldn't even quote him on a G- reg mk3 Fiesta worth £150, and those that did were between £3000-£4000 for TPFT, and no-one would quote him for fully comp.
So what is he supposed to do? Public transport is a joke. (I'm not saying no insurance is ok btw)
It's just
ridiculous to be asking for premiums like that - like you say, what's he supposed to do? Even if he does the old dodge of putting it in his parents name to try and get a sane quote, the weasels will still squirm out of paying up on a claim. It's especially daft when you consider the masive reduction in real traffic coppers meaning you're now bloody unlikely to get caught... I couldn't afford the 1800 quid TPFT the insurers wanted to insure me when I was 17, so I didn't get a car. I was lucky enough to be able to get by without one, but for someone living where they need a car for their job it's a different story....
Uninsured drivers should NOT be helped. They should receive a large fine, larger than their insurance costs would be, and the money from the fine should be channeled into helping compensate people who have been hit by uninsured drivers.
However, the insurance companies do not help matters. Firstly because of the outrageous premiums imposed on young drivers. Secondly, because of the large penalties imposed on top of any loss of no-claim bonus, should you have to make a claim. This is particularly galling in the instance of a theft claim, where, although the loss is no fault of your own, it is still treated as a 'fault' claim i.e as if you have been involved in an accident which was your fault, and you are penalised as such! This is extremely unfair!
Until insurance becomes cheaper, particularly for young drivers, and fairer, then the problem with uninsured drivers will continue.
However, the insurance companies do not help matters. Firstly because of the outrageous premiums imposed on young drivers. Secondly, because of the large penalties imposed on top of any loss of no-claim bonus, should you have to make a claim. This is particularly galling in the instance of a theft claim, where, although the loss is no fault of your own, it is still treated as a 'fault' claim i.e as if you have been involved in an accident which was your fault, and you are penalised as such! This is extremely unfair!
Until insurance becomes cheaper, particularly for young drivers, and fairer, then the problem with uninsured drivers will continue.
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