Online Auto Insurance: NHTSA Reports Reflect 'Do as I Say, Not as I Do' Attitude

    RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, December 12, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- New National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research that shows driver text-messaging and other use of hand-held electronic devices rose by half in 2010--despite 90 percent of Americans' supporting laws that ban texting while driving--shows that motorists' actions and attitudes don't always jibe, Online Auto Insurance (OAI) says.

Federal safety officials say text-messaging and other driver distractions cause thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries every year. And the consequences can be serious for those who don't cause any physical harm--including costly repair bills, traffic citations and difficulty finding affordable auto coverage, even through cheap car insurance companies.

But according to an NHTSA report released last week, the number of motorists texting or otherwise manipulating hand-held devices rose from 0.6 percent in 2009 to 0.9 percent last year. The statistics are based on the observations of trained data collectors at nearly 1,500 intersections nationwide.

A separate NHTSA phone survey, however, shows that 9 in 10 adults across the country are in favor of banning texting behind the wheel.

The apparent disconnect may be partly explained by other survey responses, including the fact that 25 percent of those surveyed said sending texts or emails makes no difference to their driving.

The NHTSA research is the latest to highlight the fact that many motorists believe in tougher prohibitions on unsafe driving--except when the rules apply to them.

Thirty-five states and Washington, D.C., now ban texting for all drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), and nine states and Washington, D.C., have outlawed the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.

The penalties for drivers caught violating those laws vary between states, however, with most states assessing a monetary fine and others--like New York--going a step further and adding penalty points to the driving records of violators.

Source: http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/new-law-strengthens-ban-texting-while-driving

Because driving history is a major factor in determining premiums, a conviction for driving while texting has the potential to impact premium prices for motorists in those states.

A recent PEMCO insurance survey of Oregon drivers found that 40 percent think fines for those who text while driving, but 25 percent admitted to committing that offense.

To learn more about this and other safety and coverage issues, readers can go to http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/cheap/companies/ where they will find informative resource pages and a rate-comparison generator that can help consumers quickly evaluate their coverage options.

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