General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why can't more people figure this out? [View all]quakerboy
(13,901 posts)Why is there fear, runaway fear after 9/11? Peoples misdeeds and crimes. Not mine, nor that of anyone I am related to or know. Some stranger. But I still pay the price if I want to fly the not quite as friendly skies.
Most speed limits are not, in fact, based on physics. They are based on the fact that someone ran over a kid on a residential street, and now we all have to go 25 mph, whether we personally have great reflexes or not. They are based on accidents, and gas mileage, and other factors. Lowered speeds on corners are pretty much the only place where speed limits have any direct relation to "physics". The rest of the time, I am paying the price of others misdeeds and accidents
Much of the cost of insurance is caused by the need to insure against accidents and misdeeds. Especially with autos. That's why your car insurance costs vary drastically based on the type of car(especially the engine in it!), the expected drivers, and the region where it will be driven.
But your statement about the reason for car insurance illustrates my point. Due to the potential for misuse or accidents, we require people to get auto insurance to protect themselves and us for "operation on the road". In short, we are "punished" by the cost of this insurance because others before us have made mistakes. I could be wrong, but I would strongly suppose the first Fords on the road were not required to be insured, and that the drivers probably never gave it a thought.
I dont hate insurance. I dont hate speed limits (much). I dont even hate security at airports, though I would quibble about methods and efficacy. And I dont hate reasonable regulation of firearms.