A recent poll found that nearly 70 percent of Florida drivers say the state's nearly four decade old no-fault auto insurance system is worth keeping. Yet an even larger majority - nearly 80 percent - wanted Governor Charlie Crist to include no-fault in the special session that was scheduled to begin September 18, but has since been cancelled likely dooming the law set to expire on Oct. 1.

The Coalition to Protect Florida's Drivers conducted the poll and released the results a day after Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio announced they were postponing the special session until sometime in the fall.

Proponents of extending the soon to expire mandate say the law protects both people and property.

According to some estimates only four million Floridians have the legally minimum mandated insurance and close to a million vehicles on the road are already uninsured. Those who fear the expiration of the law say that the number of uninsured vehicles on the roadways will only reach troubling numbers.

20 percent of Floridians currently don't have any form of health insurance so PIP is the only "coverage" they have should they find themselves in an automobile accident.

Without the mandatory coverage, drivers could be without access to medical treatment which could lead to major lifelong ailments, conditions and medical bills even if the initial injury was minor.

Wayne NeSmith, President of the Florida Hospital Association said, "The future of auto insurance in Florida is now more uncertain than ever, but this poll shows clearly that Floridians overwhelmingly support the no- fault system, and they want Governor Crist to exert his leadership and force the Legislature to address this issue."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has estimated costs for health care coverage for employees in the State Health Insurance Program would rise from $4 to $7 a member per month, or as much as $336 a year for a family of four.

The Florida Hospital Association and the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida even sent a letter earlier this week to Gov. Crist outlining their fears about what the expiration would to do to Florida's budget.

Namely $100 million in additional court costs because of increased litigation related to auto accident and a loss of 28 million since the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles would not be able to collect fines or reinstatement fees by those who drive without the mandatory coverage.

Currently the state's requirement for personal injury protection, or PIP, will automatically expire Oct. 1 unless the legislature passes a law to continue it.

Mandatory PIP covers up to $10,000 in medical expenses due to auto accidents regardless of who is deemed at fault. Drivers however also have the option to purchase bodily injury insurance to cover additional injuries they may cause to other people, but it's not required because the current PIP mandate covers at least part of that liability.