One of the present dangers of driving today is the practice of texting while driving. There are laws that are in place for this. Drivers should be aware that this could result in a ticket. Furthermore, it could affect the driver’s insurance.
What is Distracted Driving?
Texting while driving comes under the distracted driving laws. Distracted driving pertains to when a driver is distracted by something. Texting is one of the events that can lead to distraction.
How Much is a Ticket for Distracted Driving In Ontario?
Every province across Canada has its own rules and regulations. As such, they have mandates in place about what creates driving infractions. They also have the fines that they will impose. In Ontario, the fines for distracted driving can be substantial.
The amount of the fines can vary depending on the circumstances. It will depend on the type of licence the driver possesses. Then New drivers face different consequences. In some cases along with the fine, there will also be demerit points issued. For novice drivers this is not the case. Instead, they could have their licence suspended for a period.
The Repercussions of the Demerit Points
One thing every driver wants to avoid is the accumulation of demerit points. It is for several reasons. Pus, it can affect the insurance premiums. Also, it could also result in a loss of licence.
How Do Insurance Companies View Demerit Points?
Insurance companies are in the business of providing protection for drivers. They are also in the business of making a profit. They are going to make sure they take as few risks as possible. The risk factor for them is the payment of claims. It is the risk factors that help to determine how much they are going to charge an insurer for insurance.
The Demerit points can act as a red flag for risks. Demerit points can apply to many different types of infractions. Insurance companies categorize infractions as major and minor. This categorization plays a prominent role in determining the cost of the insurance.
The insurance company will factor in the cause of the demerit points. Some occurrences are considered more serious than others.
Texting and Driving Considered Serious
It is true that every insurance Company will have their point of views. But, texting and driving are becoming a serious issue. It is to the point where Insurance Companies are looking at it in a far more severe manner. As a result, a crackdown by the Insurance Companies is in the workings.
It is usually the major insurance companies that set the format for what takes place in the industry. The indications are they are the Companies that are sphere heading this crackdown. Most of the other insurance companies are sure to follow. It means that many Insurance companies will view texting as a major infraction.
Alarming Facts about Texting and Driving
Insurance companies often rely on statistics and findings as resources. In some cases, the data has to pertain to a specific region. With texting, it is something that takes place no matter what the region the driver may be it. It also raises the same level of danger no matter who is doing the texting or where when driving.
There are different devices that are used for texting and driving. One of the most common is the cell phone. Some figures are showing that sending a text message can increase the chances of an accident by 23 times. There are other related activities that increase the risks. But, not as much as what actual texting does.
Stats show that it takes 5 seconds on average to send a text. If done while driving at a speed of about 55 mph. It is like driving the length of a football field. Driving this distance without looking at the road. This is a frightening occurrence.
Extended Consequences
Just one ticket alone may not seem like a big deal to the driver. It is the combination of factors that are going to affect the insurance premiums. Insurance companies use many different metrics to determine rates. Drivers have a great deal of control over these factors.
The driving history plays an important role in helping to set the premiums for the insured driver. The history consists of many different components. It can list all of the infractions that are against the driver. Each of these on their own may not seem significant to the driver. But, when looked at as accumulation by the Insurance then they are significant.
A speeding ticket plus texting is going to create an unfavourable impression. As perceived by the insurance company. It could be an indicator that the driver is careless. Too many of these indicators may cause the Insurance Company to deem the driver as high risk. When this happens, the insurance rates can skyrocket.
A Potential Loss of Discounts
Many of the insurance companies offer some great discounts. They can vary among the different companies. In some cases, a major infraction could cause the loss of these discounts. So even though the premiums didn’t go up, there is still a loss in the discounts. This loss increases the premiums.
Be Aware of the Laws
All too often drivers do not understand the law. Not knowing these can drive up insurance premiums. Many drivers don’t realize that texting is a serious infraction of the law. It is why the fines are so stiff, and there are demerit points involved. Texting comes under the distraction laws. It is not a separate law. Knowing this creates more awareness for the drivers. It is possible they will have a better appreciation of how it can affect their insurance alone.
Although texting is common among teenagers, it is not just restricted to them. Mom’s while driving their kids to an event may text at times when driving. Some business people on the road do text messaging. There is no such thing as a simple or harmless text. Anything that causes a driver to take their eyes off of the road spells danger.
About the Author: Ashley Miller
