New Zealand, like many activist governments, wants to do something about road safety. For the Kiwis, this appeared to be easy. Make motor insurance compulsory. That would have a beneficial effect on road deaths. Or perhaps not:
A government decision on compulsory third party vehicle insurance is in doubt after research showing the majority of kiwis already have vehicle insurance.
Part of a Ministry of Transport review of the compulsory insurance issue, the survey of 4,000 New Zealanders found 92.4% had motor vehicle insurance.....
The level of uninsured motor vehicles was similar to countries overseas where vehicle insurance was compulsory, including the UK, where an estimated 6% of motorists were uninsured.
If people buy motor insurance without legal coercion, why do we need the sanction of the law? No doubt New Zealand differs from the United Kingdom in a number of cultural aspects, but their experience is invaluable in arguments against coercion.