Jeff Johnson: Would teen driving restrictions change auto insurance premium rates?

Driving restrcitions and teen auto insurance.

Response :  If a new Federal Act passes, all teens will have to go through an even more steps to get their driver’s license.

 Teens have the highest insurance rates of any other driving group and there is good reason. Teens also have the highest accident rates of any other group. Now, this is not to say that all teen drivers are bad. They just do not have the experience and maturity level that is learned with experience and this leads to more accidents.

To try and keep our teen drivers safe (and the rest of us) a new law is making its way through congress that would impose teen driving restrictions for drivers under the age of 18.

 Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York has submitted a proposal to the Senate that would set getting a driver’s license into a multi-tier process rather than the two steps it is today.

The act would have the first level stay the same with the new teen driver being issued a permit. The only difference is that it would be illegal for permit drivers to text or talk on a cell phone while driving.

The second level is a restricted license at age 16. The driver would be restricted from driving at night and also from texting and talking on a cell phone while driving. An unrestricted license would not be issued until age 18, different from the unrestricted license that is now issued at age 16.

Driver’s licensing is similar to insurance; it can vary from state to state. Some states have very loose rules such as a driver can be issued a  permit  at age 14 and a license at age 15. Other states already adopt a graduated licensing approach like the one that is trying to make its way through the Senate.

The difference is that if the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act is passed and put into effect that this would be a federal law. Meaning that each state will have to adopt this law instead of the licensing laws being different from one state to another.

Because drivers that are age 16-17 will be restricted from driving at night their driving exposure is cut to half of what it was previously. Also, with restrictions on cell phone usage while driving, one would reason that there should be a decrease in insurance premium for their teen driver.

Of course, this all will depend on the insurance company. If your teen has restrictions on their license right now ask you agent how it makes a difference on your insurance premium. Also if your insurance company offers any discounts for a restricted teen license.

Also as more and more statistics are being released to confirm that restricting teen driving time does decrease teen accidents we may see insurance rates start to be more reasonable for this group.

Please also understand what is Named drivers restriction and how this would affect the auto insurance rates.

Mark Ling : I like to compare auto insurance quotes online and do get good low auto insurance quotes. Are there any changes in the distracted driving regulations in USA for 2010.

Distracted driving and low auto insurance quotes :
Response : It is nice to know that you compare auto insurance quotes online and are able to obtain low auto insurance quotes. If you try here at compareautoinsurancequote411.com you will be able to get low auto insurance quotes. Yes, you are right about the new driving regulations in USA which will come into effect from Jan 1 2010. You should appreciate that the Insurance companies and the insurance institiute encourage and support the regulations since this will help in minimizing the claims.

Here are the latest news on distracted driving from the Insurance Institutute ” Illinois, Kansas, New Hampshire and Oregon will bring in the new year with new state laws aimed at cracking down on distracted driving, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).

Of the four states with stronger laws regarding cell phone use and texting that take effect Jan. 1, 2010, Oregon goes the farthest by banning the use of hand held devices and texting for all drivers. The new law in Oregon also prohibits people under age 18 from using any type of cell phone while driving.

Illinois is placing new restrictions on hand held devices and bans their use in construction and school zones.

Kansas is implementing a ban on all cell phone use and texting for young drivers who have learner’s permits and intermediate licenses.

New Hampshire is banning texting for all drivers.

“These four states are joining a growing number states and localities that are implementing or strengthening restrictions on cell phone use and texting,” said Robert Passmore, senior director of personal lines for PCI. “In 2009, 17 states implemented or strengthened cell phone and texting laws.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. Research also shows that the worst offenders are the youngest and least experienced drivers: men and women under 20 years of age.

As per the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are statewide bans on driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone seven states (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) and the District of Columbia.

The use of all cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 21 states and the District of Columbia.

Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 19 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, novice drivers are banned from texting in nine states (Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and West Virginia)

You will agree with me that these regulations will go a long way in reducing auto accidents and hence would give you low auto insurance rates.
Happy 2010.
Kamlesh