Texting and using your cell phone while driving is high-risk behavior. Thousands of people are killed or injured each year by distracted drivers, and insurance companies are starting to take note. If you text while driving, insurance companies consider you a liability. Although laws vary by state, points can be added to your driving record for texting while driving violations, causing your car insurance premium to rise.
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Although texting while driving is illegal in 46 states as well as Washington, D.C., people continue the high-risk behavior. More than 275 million Americans have cell phones, and 80% use them when they drive.
In one month, reports showed that 31% of drivers texted while driving. Additionally, 40% read emails and texts, and more than 60% talked on their cell phones. Drivers age 16-24 were the worst offenders of texting and cell phone use while driving.
If you text and drive, you’re risking your own life and the lives of others. You could also damage property by crashing into someone’s home or business establishment.
Distracted driving, such as cell phone use or talking to passengers, shifts the driver’s attention away from the road. Approximately 28% of all accidents are caused by drivers texting or talking on their cell phones. In 2013, distracted drivers killed more than 3,000 people and injured 424,000 more. Fatal crashes involving teenagers increase by 15% during the summer months.
Studies show that approximately 660,000 people use cell phones while driving each day in the United States. And, if you are texting while driving, you are 23 times more likely to get in an accident than an undistracted driver. This statistic falls at about the same rate as if you were driving under the influence of alcohol.
Texting while driving impairs your response time in several ways. Each time you text, you aren’t aware of your surroundings for approximately five seconds. That’s the same as closing your eyes and driving over 400 feet at 55 miles per hour. A lot can happen in that time.
Three ways that texting impairs driving include:
Unfortunately, driving while using your cell phone in hands-free mode is still a significant distraction. In fact, using voice commands appears to be just as dangerous as typing. Studies show that voice-activated texts still cause significant delays in driver response times.
Most states, including Washington, D.C., prohibit texting while driving. Texting while driving is usually considered a primary violation of the law. This means that if an officer observes you texting while driving, you can get a ticket. Some states consider texting while driving a secondary-enforcement violation, meaning you only get a ticket if you have been stopped for another offense.
Only four states do not prohibit everyone from texting while driving:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration banned texting while driving commercial vehicles in all states in 2010. Also, federal employees are not allowed to use cell phones when operating government equipment.
So, how much is a ticket for cell phone use? Penalties for texting while driving vary from state to state. Tickets can range from $20-$10,000 for a first-time offense, and in some states, involve jail time.
Examples of variations of texting while driving fines are:
In Missouri, texting while driving laws only apply to drivers under age 21, school bus drivers and drivers of commercial vehicles. Fines for first-time offenders are up to $200 and vary by county and municipality.
In Missouri, 80% of crashes involve distracted driving, and citizens are concerned. State representative Galen Higdon believes that texting or talking on hand-held devices while driving is hazardous and is hoping to pass legislation to improve the situation. Since the concerns of the people of Missouri regarding the dangers of texting and cell phone use while driving have continued to grow, more than a dozen distracted driving bills were filed early in 2018.
A summary of pending distracted driving legislation in Missouri is as follows:
According to Rep. Higdon, people in Missouri want texting while driving to cease, but legislators do not agree. He encourages schools and students to get involved in lobbying efforts.
The number of points for texting while driving violations vary from state to state and can remain on your driver record for up to three years. If you receive penalty points for a texting violation, consider taking a remedial driving course. In some cases, the points may not count if the driving course is approved by the state.
Some examples of states with point variations are:
In the state of Missouri, you need to be careful how your driving points add up. If you accrue four points in a twelve-month period, you will receive a letter of warning from the Department of Revenue. Accruing more than eight points in an eighteen-month period results in suspension of your driver’s license.
The length of driver’s license suspensions in Missouri are as follows:
Additionally, if you accrue twelve points in twelve months, eighteen points in 24 months, or 24 points in 36 months, your license will be revoked.
A cell phone ticket may impact your insurance rates. Many insurers add points to your driving record, which could raise premiums when you renew. Any points added to your driving record may result in higher insurance premiums or even a cancellation of your policy. The rising rates of distracted driving and the accidents caused by them are resulting in rising insurance costs for everyone. Insurance rates increased by an average of 10% between 2014 and 2016. And, many parents who added a teenage driver to their policy saw rates go up even higher.
Even sending a quick text like “C U soon” while you’re driving dramatically increases your chance of having an accident. Insurers see texting as risky behavior that will increase the chance of you having an accident in the future. In the insurance business, accidents cost money, so even the slightest fender-bender can affect your premium.
If you get a ticket for texting and driving, your insurance premium may increase depending on the specific laws in your state and how your premium is calculated. Once points go off your record, your car insurance rate should go down.
Examples of some insurance laws include:
For years, auto insurance companies have offered savings to customers who let them track their driving. If you drive safely, you can receive discounts saving you hundreds of dollars each year.
Tracking programs generate a massive amount of data. Driving programs consider what time of day you drive, the turns you take, your acceleration, deceleration and speed. Each driver receives an A, B or C grade in each category, and those grades are then calculated to determine discounts.
Now, car insurance companies can also monitor your cell phone data. A technology company named Arity developed an application that tracks cell phone use in your car. Arity used data from thousands of drivers and 160 million trips and determined that drivers who use cell phones are more dangerous and a greater liability than those who don’t. In fact, according to Arity, distracted drivers cost insurance companies 160% more than undistracted drivers.
This new driver application can detect whether your cell phone device is in your hand or on a flat surface, if any of your phone’s apps are in use and if your cell phone is unlocked. The technology also allows insurers to measure your liability by ascertaining when and where you use your phone. For example, a driver who heads out to bars or drives during bad weather may be considered a higher liability than someone going to the store on a clear morning. Of course, this opt-in technology can result in lower premiums for safe drivers.
Looking for a great auto insurance policy? If so, you’ve come to the right place. At David Pope Insurance, we realize that your insurance needs are different than anyone else’s, and we work to offer flexible coverage at an affordable price that’s right for you and your family. Keeping you apprised of how to improve your auto insurance premiums is a big part of what we do.
As a highly-trusted source for your insurance needs, we keep customers protected and informed, and we’ll do the same for you. So, if you live in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, or Kansas, give us a call. We’ll have a great policy at a great premium at your fingertips in a matter of hours.
Call us for a quote today at 877-437-2607. We’re available 24/7.