All I want is what every self-respecting, speed-obsessed young man wants, a sports car. There’s nothing inherently evil in that, is there? Something along the lines of a Nissan 300zx would be nice. But oh no, the almighty insurance company denies me that privilege unless I want to go on “high risk” insurance (and pay an exorbitant amount ). However, I am not denied because of my driving record which, of course, is spotless (except for a minor speeding ticket, but sixty bucks and a new radar detector took care of that problem), but because of the simple, minuscule, insignificant fact that I am under the age of 25.
Apparently all young men between the ages of 16 and 25 have an inner demon that pushes them to drive with reckless abandon every time they get into a car. I’m not saying that young men like myself don’t like to drive too fast on occasion, but just because we are young doesn’t mean we drive like a bat out of hell ALL the time. Some of us even drive responsibly, most of the time. Fact is, I can wreck my Honda just as easily as I could a 300zx, and probably be a lot less likely to survive it too.
Being on high risk insurance wouldn’t even be that bad if it wasn’t for the fact that, once you are on it, you have to say on it until you turn 25. So, even were I to get rid of my sports car and buy a Geo Metro or something, I would still have to pay the high risk rate, and that just plain sucks.
How about, instead of throwing all young people into some huge proverbial stewpot and labeling them all “high risk,” why not base rates on each individual’s driving record? Sure, there would have to be like a 3-year probationary period where the insurance company could charge their “high risk” rates, (much like the current “inexperienced operator” tag on my insurance) but after that time, why not lower it for those drivers who have managed to come through their first 3 years unscathed? Hey, you could even be really picky about it, only let those who have managed to avoid the wrath of the law and dodge all fender benders get the reduced rates. Almost anything would be better than the current system. Or, how about letting those who have stellar records get a sports car without having to become high risk? A Nissan 300zx perhaps?
I know, I know, young people between the ages of 16 and 25 get in a great deal more accidents than other age groups, but is that a reason to stereotype all of us? Its kind of like discrimination in a way. I just think that we should be judged on an individual basis. My driving record should determine my insurance rate, not the record of 90 percent of males in my age bracket. Not that I have anything against them, of course, I’m sure they’re a bunch of good guys, but I prefer to go my own way, you know? I know I’m not alone in this opinion, every person I talked to about it held similar views.
As (college) Freshman Aaron Jones put it, “Paying insurance smells like butt.” Well said Aaron, your grammatical skills never cease to amaze me.
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