Posted by Sherman in Idaho [72.47.153.163] on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 18:33:14 :
In Reply to: Re: Why did it take so long posted by Jerry in Idaho [24.49.176.137] on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 17:19:43 :
Who's to say they aren't? Insurance companies are always lobbying quietly for "safety improvements". Look at how seat belts have gone from optional equipment, to required factory equipment, to a legal requirement to wear one but only a small fine and not a primary offense, to now where you get a $140 ticket for doing nothing wrong except not wearing your seat belt. Same with building codes -- have you looked at the requirements for railings lately? Basically only 2 things are allowed -- solid panels, and vertical bars on 4" centers. Stairs are just as bad. It's no wonder all the cars and houses look the same -- they're all designed by the insurance companies.
But in terms of fire protection, things are getting pretty interesting. In flammable places like California, some insurance companies are actually contracting private fire brigades to protect just their customers' houses, either by wrapping them in foil, foaming them, or actually spraying water on them when the fire gets close. Meanwhile, these crews will just stand around and watch while neighboring houses burn.
It's not illegal, but it's developing into the sort of private fire brigade system that was common until the mid-19th century, where either you were on your own, or competing crews would race to the scene and fight (literally with each other, or by asking you to pay them) to put out your fire. In a system like that, why should an insurance company pay $30,000/hr plus supplies to put out other company's customers' fires?