DRUG TESTS FOR RATE DISCOUNTS? INSURANCE INDUSTRY SKEPTICAL

A crime-fighting group is proposing auto insurance discounts for teenagers
who submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

Just as students get insurance discounts for good grades, the Illinois Crime
Commission thinks they should get a cut rate for staying clean.

A top insurance company applauded the intention, but said the proposal
wouldn't work.

"The problem with this is, we would be rewarding drivers for an activity
that would already be illegal and should not be happening regardless of
whether there's an incentive," said John Wiscaver, regional public affairs
director for State Farm Insurance in Bloomington.

The good-student discount is based on data that shows students with good
grades have statistically fewer accidents.

But State Farm maintains it cannot statistically prove that those who use
drugs and alcohol are worse drivers.

Statistics show alcohol is involved in 41 percent of fatal crashes, and that
reflexes slow among drivers with more than .05 percent alcohol in their
blood.

But there is no research generally comparing the driving records for those
who use drugs and alcohol with those who don't, Wiscaver said.

In addition, he added, the test would be discriminatory if it was not
available to those who couldn't afford it.

A spokesman for an insurance company trade group was somewhat skeptical of
the proposal, but was open to hear how it would work.

"My gut reaction is, I don't know what message that sends the teenage driver
who is already required to have no drugs or alcohol," said Kevin Martin,
executive director of the Illinois Insurance Information Service.

But Jerry Elsner, executive director of the crime commission, said his group
would try to work out any problems with the insurance industry.

Just because driving under the influence is illegal, he said, doesn't mean
it's not going on.

Testing could give teens an argument for resisting peer pressure to use
drugs or alcohol, he said, and could give parents a way to make sure their
child is drug-free.

Donald Weber, superintendent of Naperville Unit District 203, applauded the
idea.

"Anything we can to do to promote healthy lifestyles should be viewed as a
positive feature," he said. He was hesitant, though, about providing schools
as a testing site, especially considering not all students would be
participating.

As proposed, the program would be voluntary. Students could sign up with
insurance companies to be randomly tested twice a year.

Testing laboratories could either arrange with schools to collect urine
samples at schools, or could call the student and provide 48 hours for the
student to come in.

If the student failed to show up, or failed the test, the company would send
notice the student was dropped from a program.

The schools and police would not be involved, but the parents would know by
the higher insurance premiums they'd be paying.

The crime commission also will try to get lawmakers to provide funding for
counseling for those who test positive.

"We don't want the mark of Cain on a kid, so it's all rewarding," crime
commission director Elsner said. "There's no downside to this."

The student or parent would have to agree to pay the cost of the test, which
can run around $35. Obviously, the insurance discount would have to be more
than that to make it worthwhile.