During the past month, nearly 40% of U.S. motorists have sent a text message while driving, according to a survey of U.S. drivers by Assurance. Further, nearly 90% of Americans said they feel unsafe in a car with a driver that is texting. However, less than half of respondents said they feel unsafe if they are the ones texting a driving. It follows that distracted driving has become a leading cause of vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). More than 3,500 people died as a result of distracted drivers in 2021 alone, the NHTSA says. When risky behavior such as texting while driving is chronicled, as it is when a driver is cited by law enforcement for texting, it's bound to impact insurance rates. Getting a ticket for texting while driving also has a negative impact on auto insurance rates, with premium increases of 10% to more than 30%, depending on the carrier. Related: |
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Steve Hallo
Steve Hallo is managing editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. He can be reached at [email protected]
