On Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:25:18 +0100, John Williamson
wrote:

So driving without insurance risks harming the other party in the event
of an accident - who could be entirely innocent.

Same as any non-driving accident.

Not many of which, when happening to or caused by the mythical man on
the Clapham omnibus, can result in significant numbers of people injured
in such away as to require 24-hour a day care for life. For instance,
how many people can you kill/injure at a time by riding a pushbike? Or a
horse? Or by dropping a slate from a roof? In a car, I have the ability
to kill or injure dozens in one incident. If I were driving a lorry, it
could, potentially, be hundreds.

Being careless with a match can cause just as many injuries and deaths
as well as huge costs in property damage as just one example. Driving
is simply a very common activity that has a fairly high probability of
causing a lot of damage and injury, but it is far from being the only
activity where a small mistake can cause a great deal of harm.

Insurance is not legally required for boats or aeroplanes. The former
doesn't even have an age restriction or need a licence to legally
operate (drive).

--
Cynic