May 11, 2011
By: Bruce Berry
A new report says the economic recession had a severe impact on the number of Americans driving without auto insurance.
The Insurance Research Council released its 2011 report on uninsured motorists, reporting that the most recent data available showed 13.8 percent of U.S. motorists lacked auto insurance in 2009. That was down from 14.3 percent in 2008, but still remained relatively high. Additionally, the report said the percentage of uninsured motorists climbed each year in the four years leading to 2008, showing the economic downturn may a played a part in more Americans dropped their auto insurance coverage.
"The leveling trend in the percentage of uninsured motorists is an unfortunate consequence of the economic downturn and illustrates how virtually everyone is affected by recent economic developments," said Elizabeth Sprinkel, senior vice president of the IRC. "Despite laws in many states requiring drivers to maintain insurance, about one in seven motorists remain uninsured."
Mississippi had the highest percentage of uninsured motorists, at 28 percent. On the opposite end of the spectrum was Massachusetts, at 2 percent.
The report follows a recent Gallup study that found only 24 percent of drivers between 18 and 24 years old were insured during the first quarter of 2011, down from 28 percent from last year.
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