The level of uninsured drivers in South Carolina -- one of the nation's highest -- should finally decline with the enforcement of a new state law that can result in suspension of the driver's licenses of scofflaws. The result should be safer highways and lower insurance rates.

The consequences are tough and are the result of scofflaws' ability to evade the bite of previous sanctions. Under the old law, the state could revoke vehicle registration and tags, but the vehicle could then be registered under the name of another family member.

"You start taking away people's licenses and it will get their attention." Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg, told our reporter. Rep. Walker is an independent insurance agent.

The most severe sanction of losing a license won't be applied without warning, however. Drivers will still have 20 business days to get insurance after they are notified by the state. They also will be liable for a $5 per day fine until they do so.

Last fall, insurance companies began sending the names of canceled policyholders by computer to the state Division of Motor Vehicles. Identifying those drivers is the first step in enforcement.

The level of uninsured drivers on South Carolina roads -- estimated at more than 25 percent of all drivers -- demands a strong response. North Carolina, by contrast, has an estimated 5 percent of motorists driving uninsured, reflecting that state's strong enforcement of a law requiring drivers to be insured.

Some uninsured drivers are virtually uninsurable because of their bad driving records. Getting them off the road will improve the safety margin for other motorists. And reducing the number of uninsured drivers should reduce the expense of insurance coverage for those who abide by the law.