Dealing with uninsured motorists

Wednesday, February 23rd 2005, 10:29 am

By: News On 6

Lawmakers say uninsured drivers cost Oklahomans millions and its time to get them off the road. Thousands of people drive every day without insurance. A bill is headed through the state legislature to slow them down.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson says on wet rainy days like Wednesday, Tulsa Police know to expect more wrecks. And more often, drivers involved in those wrecks just expect the other party might not have insurance. The state estimates three out of every 10 cars on Oklahoma roads are being driven without insurance. When uninsured drivers are involved in accidents, insured drivers have to pick up the bill, which can cause them to pay higher premiums.

Earlier this month, an uninsured driver in a blue car caused a wreck in west Tulsa, damaging a Lexus and a News on 6 SUV. After the wreck, that driver just drove home, without a ticket or one penny of punishment.

State representative John Wright of Broken Arrow wants to put together a database of insured drivers, so police would be able to tell instantly if a driver has insurance. The database would cost more than $50,000 to setup, but Wright hopes it would end up saving Oklahomans on their insurance rates.

Lawmakers say similar plans have worked in other states.