Car Insurance Rates, Cell Phones and Auto Accidents May 29, 2007
Posted by admin in : Car Insurance Articles , add a commentAuthor: Dean Larson
Article:
Most people realize that one key to keeping their car insurance
rates low is to avoid being in an accident. While some companies
have first accident forgiveness, more than likely at some point
that accident will affect the rates you’re paying for your auto
insurance. Many vehicle accidents are a result of distractions,
in fact statistics show that distracted drivers have three time
the chance of being in an accident. While there are a variety of
distractions that can be a cause of an accident, one of the
biggest distractions causing more and more accidents today are
using cell phones while driving.
The root cause of many of these cell phone related accidents are
from people who are either dialing their phone or searching
their contact list while driving. Both acts are very dangerous
because it normally forces the driver to look at their phone to
complete the act. And at high speeds and/or in congested
traffic, a second or two is all it takes to either cause an
accident or be slow to react when another driver has made a bad
move. Unfortunately just talking on your cell phone or listening
to someone else can be almost as dangerous since it tends to
lessen your focus on the road and what’s going on around you.
The percentages that studies indicate are astounding, with 80%
of accidents occurring within a couple of seconds of a driver
being distracted.
While many people have turned to using hands-free sets while
talking on their phone, statistics indicate that while it helps
with the dialing aspect of using a cell phone, the overall
percentage of accidents have dropped very little. Even if you
aren’t actually holding the phone, talking and listening to
someone can still be a distraction.
Text messaging is another form of cell phone use that is proving
to be very dangerous. Text messaging requires you to look away
from the road, even longer than you would if you were just
dialing a number.
There are many drivers who feel that they can concentrate on a
phone conversation and the road at the same time, but this is
generally not the case; your attention is always divided. Others
feel that they can look back up quick enough to avoid an
accident, but one actually never knows when the right time to
look away and the right time to look back at the road can be.
All it takes is a split second to slow your reaction time so
it’s imperative that drivers be concentrating on the road and
aware of their surroundings at all times.
Some states have already banned talking on cell phones while
driving, and other states are working on following in their
footsteps. There are even some states that are doing their best
to outlaw text messaging while driving as well, since it has
proven to be so dangerous. Before you get in your car and start
talking on your cell phone, consider your well being, the well
being of others, as well as the hike in your car insurance rates
that could occur. Don’t be the foolish one that says “it could
never happen to me”. Use cell phones wisely, and for best
results, limit cell phone talking while driving to emergencies
only. If you must talk on your phone, take the time to pull off
the road while carrying on the conversation.
About the author:
To learn more about how you can save money and greatly reduce
your car insurance rates, please visit
car-insurance-rates-info.com. We offer unbiased information on
the best ways to get insurance discounts, find out what average car insurance rates are and more.
