Why not allow insurance agencies to issue driver's licenses with the catch that they then have to insure that driver for the duration of the license? This directly aligns the pocketbook of the insurance company to two factors: number of people with licenses and likelihood said people with licenses get into accidents.

This would encourage insurance agencies to train their drivers well, and would allow them to better distinguish between who is safe and who is not. The safe teenage driver could pay a smaller premium than the unsafe 30 year old. Safe drivers who might not otherwise be able to afford insurance might be able to get lower premiums.

It does bias against rich bad drivers, since they can pay any premium to make up for how bad they are. The state could impose a cap on the premium to discourage insurance companies from issuing blanket licenses at high rates. Our current scheme still allows rich bad drivers to get licenses, anyway, so tying the license and insurance together might still be an improvement.

Also, you as a driver will have some sense of how safe you are relative to everyone else, based off your premium. Everybody thinks they're above average drivers. The half that really is worse will not only know, but will have a financial incentive to become safer.

What do you think of this idea or comment?
(You can change your vote at any time)

I agree

No opinion

I disagree