There is a wide range of estimates regarding the number of uninsured drivers in Ohio. Because Ohio has a financial responsibility (FR) law, not a pure compulsory insurance law, it's difficult to truly gauge the number of Ohioans who are not complying with the FR law and are therefore considered uninsured. An actual percentage or range of those who may be driving without insurance or other means of financial responsibility would be purely speculative unless a proportionate number of drivers from various parts of the state were randomly stopped and asked for FR proof.

What has been tracked for the past several years is the FR status of drivers involved in crashes. In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of nonfinancially responsible (uninsured) drivers who have been at fault in crashes. In 1994, there were 25,303 drivers found to be at fault in crashes and not in compliance with the FR law. That number dropped 53% by 1998. The chart below provides Ohio driver crash statistics by year for 1994-1998.

Source: Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Traffic Crash Facts, 1994-1998 editions
* Based on ODPS at-fault percentage total of 49.6%
** Based on ODPS at-fault percentage total of 49.9%

According to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the threat of license suspension and the addition of more financial responsibility (FR) law enforcement mechanisms has likely motivated more motorists to come into compliance with Ohio law in recent years. Since October, 1995, law enforcement has been checking Ohio drivers for proof of FR at the scene of a crash, when being issued a traffic citation or during a vehicle safety inspection.

The Insurance Research Council (IRC) released a study in 1999 that found 14% of US drivers are uninsured. According to the study, the problem of driving uninsured varies greatly among states, from a high of 34% in Colorado to a low of 5% in Maine and North Carolina.

The IRC study estimates Ohio's uninsured motorist (UM) percentage at the US average of 14%.

IRC calculations were based on the ratio of claims by individuals injured by uninsured drivers to claims by individuals injured by insured drivers.

Cleveland East had the highest uninsured motorist claim frequency, which is the number of claims per 100 insured vehicles. This area had a UM claim frequency of .705 compared to the state average of .195. Cleveland East also had the highest UM loss cost for the state at $46.18, compared to the Ohio average of $10.98.

A 1998 study released by the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) found that mandatory insurance laws have failed to curb uninsured motorists. The study found that in the 19 states with compulsory insurance laws effective prior to 1976, the growth of UM ranged anywhere from 6% to nearly 300% between 1976-1985.

According to the NAII study, in 1995 about 15% of the US driving population was uninsured. In 13 of the states with compulsory laws, estimated UM populations were higher. In four of those states (CA, CO, NM, SC) and Washington, DC, more than 20% of the drivers are reportedly uninsured.

Of the 12 states enacting compulsory liability insurance laws between 1976-1984, only four experienced a reduction in uninsured motorists. For this study, Ohio was considered part of this group since most Ohioans comply with the FR law through the purchase of auto liability insurance. The NAII study reports that Ohio experienced a UM growth rate of 3.5% between 1984-1985, which is prior to enactment of the FR enforcement provision. For more information regarding Ohio's FR law, click here.