Driving Dangers — Uninsured Motorists & Hit & Run Drivers

Uninsured motorists are always with us. Runaway inflation caused those numbers to rise the last few years. U.S. News & World Report says since 2022 the number of states with 20%, or more, of uninsured drivers has more than doubled.

Two PIA Western Alliance states — New Mexico (4) and California (8) — are in the top eight.

U.S. News & World Report reporter Rachael Brennen says a number of factors are contributing to the frightening rise. They are the cost of housing, higher rates of poverty and higher auto insurance prices.

"There is also a correlation between the escalating high cost-of-living expenses, stagnant wages and other issues straining the average household budget, indicating that despite the dangers of driving uninsured, car insurance seems to be an expense some people are willing to cut when trying to balance their budget,” she said.

Brennen said penalties for driving without insurance vary from state-to-state. Fines, license suspension, vehicle registration suspension and being disqualified from getting a payment from an at-fault driver in a crash are among them.

In New Mexico the Motor Vehicle Department constantly monitors registered vehicles to make sure they are insured under the state’s Mandatory Financial Responsibility Act. A driver getting an “unknown” notification has 30 days to provide proof of insurance.

Failure means a registration suspension for the vehicle and a $30 reinstatement fee. Fines and jail time can also be imposed.

California’s auto insurance laws specify fines and other penalties. Involvement in a crash without proper insurance and a driver’s license suspension of up to four years results.

And that’s regardless of who is at fault.

Here’s the list and the percentage of drivers in the state that are uninsured and the average cost of auto insurance within those states. It has to be noted that California — as the most populous state in the union with 39 to 40 million people — has a 20.4% uninsured rate.

That is about 8 million — a staggering number of people.

1. Mississippi

Uninsured rate: 28.2%

Average annual premium: $1,505.00

2. New Mexico

Uninsured rate: 24.1%

Average annual premium: $1,530.00

3. Washington D.C.

Uninsured rate: 23.1%

Average annual premium: $1,727.00

4. Michigan

Uninsured rate: 22.3%

Average annual premium: $1,920.00

5. Tennessee

Uninsured rate: 21.3%

Average annual premium: $1,264.00

6. Missouri

Uninsured rate: 20.7%

Average annual premium: $2,055.00

7. Florida

Uninsured rate: 20.6%

Average annual premium: $2,551.00

8. California

Uninsured rate: 20.4%

Average annual premium: $1,782.00

Speaking of insurance, driving without insurance and crashes, AAA says 15% of all crashes in the U.S. in 2023 saw the involved driver leaving the scene.

“While the reasons drivers flee vary, the outcomes are often too severe or fatal, and our analysis shows the percentage of this crash type continues to increase during the past several years,” Dr. David Yang, President and Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety said. “Drivers must understand that leaving the scene only compounds the harm. Staying, calling for help, and taking responsibility can save lives.”

AAA spokesman, Ryan Adcock added driver distraction is part of the reason for increases in hit and run crashes.

“Driver distraction can certainly play a part in that and [is] certainly something that we are urging drivers to not participate in. So making sure that you are putting that phone away, putting it on do not disturb on driving mode so that you can focus on that,” Adcock said.

The report says 40% of the known hit-and-run drivers in crashes were a fatality occurs do not have a valid driver’s license. Half are driving autos that are not registered in their name.

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