Are Drivers of Uninsured Vehicles “More Dangerous”? A Sampling Paradigm to Resolve Conflicting Evidence

For decades state legislators have called for mandatory insurance laws, some legislators arguing their view that drivers of uninsured vehicles are high risk and a public safety problem. In opposing such laws, however, insurers respond that drivers of uninsured cars closely resemble drivers of insured cars. Despite opposition by insurers, to date 48 states have adopted mandatory insurance. Since many vehicles continue to be driven illegally without insurance, the character of drivers using uninsured vehicles continues to be studied and debated.