Distracted Driving Campaigns Yet to Impact Crash Rates, Auto Insurance Premiums

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- OnlineAutoInsurance.com, a large supporter of cracking down on the use of cell phones would like to point out that many auto insurance companies and public organizations have allocated resources on campaigns rallying against distracted driving. By this point, the dangers of driving while using a cell phone are well known.  Nine states have laws in place banning all drivers from using handheld cell phones to talk while driving, and 31 ban all drivers from texting while driving. The ultimate aim of these campaigns and laws, though, is not being reached, according to a new report by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

A large number of the auto insurance companies' campaigns have targeted teen drivers. According to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood, one in four teenage drivers say they've texted behind the wheel. It's easy to understand why cheap car insurance for 16 year olds can be so hard to find, considering 16 year olds also have a crash rate that is 15 times higher than that of 20- to 24-year-old drivers.

Source: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/outreach/safesobr/13qp/facts/factgrad.html

But despite the proliferation of anti-distracted-driving campaigns and the widespread prohibition of handheld-phone use behind the wheel, there has been no effect on the typical crash patterns, according to the IIHS. The Institute says that, although the bans temper phone use behind the wheel, drivers appear to be finding other distractions. The president of the IIHS, Adrian Lund, went as far as to say, "Reducing crashes and saving lives is what highway safety is all about ... and by this essential measure the benefits of hand-held cell phone bans are nil."

The authors of the IIHS article say that for crash rates, and eventually insurance rates, to be reduced, there need to be major developments in and implementation of new crash avoidance features. Until then, the insurance campaigns and bans may make a dent in phone usage but perhaps will not have much of an effect on crash rates.

Consumers who wish to read about more insurance matters can go to http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/learn/how-much-is-car-insurance-16-year-old.htm, where online shoppers will also be able to get premium estimates from a variety of carriers through the fast and free quote comparison generator.

SOURCE Online Auto Insurance, LLC