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April is distracted driver awareness month!

By March 28, 2019May 28th, 2019Personal Insurance

DISTRACTED DRIVING by Martin Lipton

How many times do you see someone texting or eating or simply not paying attention to the road? Distracted driving has become a huge problem. Distracted driving can be using your phone, eating, drinking or getting ready in your car in the morning. The bad news is distracted drivers are one of the main factors that increase insurance premiums.

WHAT IS DISTRACTED DRIVING?

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system—anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

INSURANCE RATES

In 2018 there were an estimated 1.5 million car accidents that were caused by people using their cell phones. The phrase, “the losses of the few are paid by the many” rings true when it comes to car accidents. Insurance companies are now taking the hit for the added exposure. In 2017 State Farm lost an estimated $7 Billion dollars in auto claims. With newer technology, more people driving and people being distracted while driving all tie into why insurance rates are going up.

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