Distracted Driving and Its Impact on Insurance

Distracted driving essentially entails operating an automobile while doing another activity that takes your attention away from the road, such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, putting on makeup, adjusting the radio, etc. and can be extremely dangerous to yourself, your passengers, and other drivers on the road. Distracted driving is a major cause of vehicle accidents and deaths every year, as well as traffic violations, which can result in higher insurance rates. If you are located in Willmar, Minnesota, and want to know more about factors that impact your auto insurance rates, MG Insurance Inc. can help. Read on to learn more about distracted driving and how it can impact your insurance rates.

What Are the Dangers of Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is dangerous, and can even be deadly. Not only is it harmful and possibly fatal, it could also be very costly when it comes to your auto insurance. Distracted driving is basically the equivalent of driving blindly, and it only takes a moment to cause a tragedy. In most states, texting while driving is illegal, so even if you are cited for distracted driving because of technology use and an accident does not occur, you will still be required to pay a significant fine and will potentially be required to pay higher insurance rates. In the event that your distracted driving was proven to cause an accident, that will be taken into consideration when your insurance premium is being reviewed. If you are seen as a distracted driver, your insurance carrier will assume that you are more likely to be involved in an accident, and therefore it will be more costly to insure you. Younger drivers are considered to be at a higher risk for distracted driving, and have less experience behind the wheel, which could also affect your insurance rates if you are the parent of a teen driver.

Tips For Driving Safely

The best way to keep your auto insurance rates low is to maintain a good driving record. Some tips to prevent distracted driving include:

• Turning off your phone while driving – Turning off your phone and putting it in an area where it is out of sight is the best way to avoid answering texts, calls, or checking social media while driving.
• Pulling over – If the call or text cannot wait, consider pulling over to the side of the road in a safe place to complete the communication.
• Create an automated phone message while driving – You can create an automated message on your device to let callers/texters know that you are occupied and that you will call them back when you are able.

It is never worth it to drive when you are distracted. If you have auto insurance questions in Willmar, Minnesota, contact MG Insurance Inc. today for a consultation.