Then your dad’s understanding of insurance, and economics, was not very complete shall we say. But glad he got away with it. He was one bad bit of luck and nasty attorney from ruining your future.
It can be endlessly debated but insurance was a compromise to minimize the risks of using the public streets.
Forget monitoring how people brake. I’d just want to know if someone out on the street is covered or not.
Actually my old man worked in the finance business for most of his career. He understood insurance pretty well since he occasionally sold it. But he had a visceral feeling against the idea of ‘betting against himself’ and saw most insurance in that light. His plan was to die broke—and he pretty much succeeded. No attorney, no matter how vicious would have gotten much from him. Now in his flush years, when he had something to lose, I’m sure he had car insurance.