Congested Roads and Auto insurance Rates

Congested Roads Lead to Carelessness

The increase in low-speed car crashes is wreaking havoc on auto insurance rates. The cost of auto claims has increased over the past decade due to the expense of repairing the more sophisticated technologies in our vehicles and the rising cost of medical care. Moreover, the cost of claims for small accidents in traffic congestion is really taking its toll.

We hear a lot about distracted driving. Distractions include texting, eating, livestreaming—even shaving and applying cosmetics. We can all take simple steps, such as preparing our route in advance, leaving on time, and ignoring social media, even when in congested situations where the temptation to type on the phone is greatest.

As our population changes, drivers must be more cautious of less capable drivers. Age and inexperience don't necessarily disqualify a person from driving, but those factors can cause slower reactions, confusion and errors. And people transferring driving skills from one country to another may not have the same road culture as we have. Defensive driving and remaining alert are practices smart drivers need to adopt.

Keep your driving record clean—no tickets, no accidents—to obtain the lowest car insurance rates possible. And remember: the primary goal of driving somewhere is getting there alive.