Car Insurance Quotes Rise for Texting Driver

By: Shannon Brown, Car Insurance Analyst
CheaperCarInsurance.com

We’ve all heard that texting and driving is a bad idea, but people keep proving it. Saturday evening, Andrew P. Plourd, plowed into a Springfield, Massachusetts couple’s home. The reason? He was texting while driving and lost control of his vehicle. The estimated damage to the home of the Singisers is $25,000, but Plourd will be paying in the form of higher car insurance quotes from now on, as well.

The 24 year old driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries and the homeowners were uninjured. However, the toll on the house is yet to be determined and Plourd will be facing higher car insurance quotes for some time to come, thanks to his inattention to his driving.

Texting and Driving: A Recipe for Disaster

Texting and driving has long been an issue, but it’s one that is not easily regulated. Most people don’t think twice about sending a message while heading home from work. While there is more than enough evidence to show that this practice is dangerous, like anything that keeps your eyes off the road, drivers like Plourd continue to text in the vehicle.

Why are people unable to text and drive at the same time?

• You can’t text without looking at the phone and taking your eyes off the road
• You are reading incoming text messages . . . again, not looking at the road
• It requires a hand, which means less control of the vehicle

Unfortunately, most drivers don’t realize that texting is so dangerous until they actually have an accident themselves. Fewer realize that it could cost them in increased car insurance quotes for years to come.

Texting and cell phones have been a problem for years, but with the more advanced technology and better texting methods available these days, it’s an even bigger issue and one that can cause a drastic change in car insurance quotes if you are involved in an accident.

Who’s Texting?

Anything that distracts you while driving is dangerous. We often underestimate the amount of concentration required to drive safely and it’s often too late when that realization comes. However, certain demographics are more likely to be on the phone when they crash, whether texting or talking.

One fifth of all adult drivers say they text while driving, but a full third of young drivers (under 24) text and drive. Here are some more interesting stats for you:

• Nearly 50% of 18-24 year olds text while driving
• Talking on the phone slows reflexes to the rate of a 70 year old’s
• Last year, 21% of fatal accidents involving 16-19 year olds were caused by cell phone use
• Texting and driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than drunk driving

Why Car Insurance Quotes Go Up

When someone crashes their vehicle and car insurance has to take over, it can be costly. Car insurance quotes are higher for those deemed high risk, teens, the elderly and those who have crashed their vehicle before.

Texting while driving is still on the rise while police try to find a way to legitimately stop it.

Posted: April 28, 2010