We got about $600 back from GEICO, but our policy is over $3k every six months. And no, we aren't bad drivers; we just have a lot of expensive cars!

I was going 70 miles an hour and got stopped by a cop who said, "Do you know the speed limit is 55 miles per hour?" I replied "Yes, officer, but I wasn't going to be out that long."

comedian Steven Wright

The nation's traffic is not otherwise at a perpetual standstill. The only stats that would support any notion that fewer drivers and less traffic equates to worse accidents and larger claims are manufactured by the insurance industry itself. And then to form the basis of a company line to pass down to agents getting repeatedly asked about rebates and reductions from customers. There will be less minor and less major accidents when you have significantly fewer vehicles on the road.

How about this: The roads are much safer now because, with fewer drivers, law enforcement can more easily police them and thwart recklessness. Relatives I have in law enforcement told me that the number of accidents they are reporting has dropped dramatically for months.

This isn't meant to disparage those of you who work in the insurance industry, but folks need to keep in mind that insurance companies will lie and cheat to get and keep your money. Don't believe me? Do a quick internet search and you will see various federal and state actions against many of them for fraud and bad faith. If you or I did these things, we would be in jail. The bottom line is that you simply cannot trust your insurance company to do the right thing.

Insurance companies love to cite this type of stat though it not the result of fraudulent claims as they would like you to think. Most people are not dishonest. But if you look hard enough, you will find that all of the major auto insurance companies have been found to be dishonest at times when denying or adjusting claims or coverage.

The average claimant is uneducated as to what he or she is or should be entitled to from their or someone else's insurance company. Insurance companies train their representatives to exploit this naivety.

People get prosecuted, ordered to pay restitution and go to jail when they are caught committing insurance fraud. And like with most crimes, many offenders escape prosecution. But the threat and fear is there. Insurance companies get slapped on the wrist and rarely have to make any restitution to those it cheated when caught acting fraudulently even on a widescale basis. There is no threat to them and no fear.