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Auto Insurance   Uninsured motorists are a hazard to everyone. But we can do much more than just have an opinion, we can try to solve the problem. The problem is that today there is very weak enforcement for carrying automobile insurance. We need to strengthen the enforcement, and if at the same time we can decrease the total cost while providing a use-based charge, that'd be gravy. Here's an interesting (and unoriginal) idea: Roll the price of auto insurance into the price of gasoline. That's right, every time you purchase a gallon of gas, you also purchase the necessary insurance that covers you as you use the gasoline. Let's take a quick look at the benefits of a system like this: * It is completely scaled on use. The more you drive, the more insurance you buy. If you drive very little, you also pay very little - sounds fair to me. · It eliminates the uninsured motorist. Everyone who buys gas is covered. · No-fault system removes expensive litigation · It makes insurance more affordable (by an estimated 30 to 40 percent). · It eliminates charging based on number of vehicles. · It increases the direct per-mile cost of driving (though it reduces the overall cost), providing additional incentive to not drive.   I see some hands raised in the back, let me answer some questions: Q: What would this do to the price of gasoline? A: It would add roughly 50 cents per gallon (the original six-year-old estimate was 30 to 50 cents) to the cost. This may sound like a lot, but it is almost certainly less than you currently pay for insurance. Q: Who would carry the insurance? A: Existing insurance companies would cover the liability in exchange for the revenue, which could be bid and traded in bulk lots. Q: I currently pay low insurance due to a good-driver discount. Now I'm lumped back in with all the crummy drivers - how am I saving money? A: It's true, all drivers are now created equal. But, it is very probable that you would still pay less with this proposal. Suppose you drive 12,000 miles a year and get 25 MPG (these numbers are typical). This means you purchase 480 gallons of gas per year. Under the above proposal, you would effectively pay $240 per year (not per 6 months as it is usually billed) for coverage. And, for this $240, you get liability coverage, collision coverage, and you never again worry about an uninsured motorist. Q: If this is such a great way to do it, why hasn't it been done? A: It has been tried. Financial author Andrew Tobias, along with the National Consumer Organization for California, submitted a similar proposal to the California State Legislature in 1993. It was defeated in committee due to strong lobbying from insurance and trial-lawyer PACs (who stand to lose the most from this proposal).