We have recently returned to Beautiful British Columbia (Vernon) after having lived and worked in Toronto, New York and Chicago for the past 18 years.

During this time away from B.C. we have regularly insured two automobiles and the cost per vehicle was never more than $750 per annum. In fact our most recent coverage provided by RBC Insurance in Ontario cost $556 for a 2003 pick-up truck and $689 for a 2008 sedan.

The cost to insure the same vehicles with identical coverage with ICBC is $1,207 and $1,359 respectively. That is with the full 43 per cent discount as we have spotless driving records and a zero claims history.

While I do not know the specific statistics between various jurisdictions, I don't imagine there is any comparison with respect to the incidence of vehicle theft, fraud and accident claim levels between Toronto / New York / Chicago and Vernon. Certainly none to justify such a large difference in premiums.

There is little doubt in my mind that the "good" drivers in B.C. are significantly subsidizing the "bad" drivers. We have taken the Canadian concept of universality too far.

If a 19-year-old has demolished a car as a result of reckless driving and is deemed either a high risk, or even uninsurable, then he or she should buy a bicycle if they can't get insurance, not depend on me to help pay for their auto insurance.

It is time for individuals to be held accountable for their actions and also time for the government of British Columbia to get out of the insurance business (which they had no justification for being in to begin with).

As a stab in the dark, I would bet private industry would be 40 per cent more efficient (insurance CEOs don't generally shower their friends with repaired vehicles at their consumers' expense) so, after deducting a 12 per cent profit margin, automobile insurance costs for the residents of B.C. could decline by 28 per cent or more. In addition, good drivers would pay much less as they would not be forced to subsidize the bad drivers.

Glen Carter