Why Mandatory Car Insurance Hurts Good Drivers

The problem as regards mandatory insurance — and specifically, mandatory “high coverage” insurance such as my reader wants, is that it assumes we’re all dangerous/reckless/inept — and makes us pay through the nose accordingly.

But why should responsible drivers who do pay attention to their driving, who are skilled and attentive and who never get into at-fault accidents (millions of such people exist) be compelled to pay big bucks for insurance coverage that is massively expensive precisely because it is compulsory and forces them into the same risk pool with the irresponsible few such as the person who hit the guy in my example?

Granted, there is always some risk an accident or injury may occur — no matter how good the driver — anytime a person gets behind the wheel. But is it reasonable to base law on the exception rather than the rule? To require that people — everyone — insure against any conceivable risk, and to an extent that assumes the absolute “worst case” scenario?

Most of us have to strike a balance between our means and what we spend on various things. Many people would probably prefer to throw say an extra $50 each month at their mortgage balance (or the family food budget) rather than literally throw it away on an over-priced, compulsory insurance policy they will probably never need.