Distractions Whilst Driving

What kind of habits do you have when behind the wheel of a car? Are you as good a driver as you believe yourself to be? We all have bad habits that we may not even realise but when you have a bad driving habit, you are a likely candidate for an accident; that makes you a liability and an insurance risk.

Driver distraction is a major cause of both fatal and non-fatal road accidents. As any distraction will result in a delay in processing information - and thus a delay in reaction time - distracted driving is dangerous driving. In the USA it is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that twenty-five percent of vehicle crashes are caused by distracted drivers. That's some statistic, and one which is no doubt reflected at least in part here in the UK. Another alarming statistic reports that a person having a hands-free mobile phone conversation is far more likely to have a car accident than a person driving whilst four times over the legal alcohol limit.

Smoking and Driving: In the UK, it is illegal to smoke on public transport. You can light up in the privacy of your own car but don't let that fool you. The Highway Code states that smoking while driving is a breach of rules and classed as distraction. It is possible to receive a £2500 fine if you have a crash and are found to have been smoking at the time. The Scottish Highway Code banned smoking and driving in 2006, but this law has been in effect in Sweden for as long as I can remember. In Canada, an Ontario trucker was fined for smoking in his rig. Police pulled over the trucker and ticketed him $305 for smoking in the workplace, a violation of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. In the UK it is also illegal to smoke in any vehicle which is used for work.

Driving Whilst Snacking: Spilling soft drinks while driving will cause drivers to lose focus as they attempt to stop further spillage onto their clothes or upholstery. A hot drink is probably the worst offender. A spilled coffee can really hurt if it lands in your lap, and a road accident will hurt even more. Whether the drink is hot or cold, trying to recover from the situation causes the biggest distraction. Trying to munch away on a sandwich or snack whilst driving can be disastrous.

Driving and Listening: A study by the Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging at Carnegie Mellon University showed that brain power used while driving decreases by 40% when a driver listens to conversation or music. Thankfully mobile phone use (unless using hands-free) while driving is already banned in the UK, and since Jan 1st in Canada too, but what about listening to the radio? A report by the University of Leicester entitled Football Focus suggests that almost two million motorists have had an accident or a near miss while listening to sport on the radio. The study showed considerable and sometimes erratic variations in the driver's behaviour as the match progressed. Also noted were significant speed changes and dangerous lane changing.

Driving Convictions: In the UK, a driving offence - whether driving while using a mobile phone, or driving under the influence of drink or drugs - will undoubtedly result in a conviction and loss of points on the driver's licence. The more points a driver has on his licence, the more high-risk the driver. 12 points added to a licence within a three-year period will automatically ensure that licence is revoked. When the banned driver finally gets his licence reinstated, it can be difficult to find an insurance company which will offer an affordable premium for future cover.

To drive in the UK without insurance is a criminal offence and could carry a prison sentence if you are involved in an accident. A driver without insurance may also find his vehicle impounded, which incurs yet another cost. In the US it is not unusual for a vehicle to be permanently confiscated from re-offenders.

Insurance Hikes: A high-risk driver is normally interpreted as one more likely to make an insurance claim and so their premium will be higher. The premium can often be so inflated that the driver may have problems affording car insurance entirely.

Many insurance companies do not consider the actual offence and just put on the pounds to get a bigger profit. What many fail to realise is that a driver who gets three points on his licence for speeding is more likely to stick to the limits in future and be the ultimate safe driver. The fear of extra points is often what breeds safe drivers.

In this case the driver may actually be penalised twice for the offence - once for speeding and again by the higher premium charged by his insurance company as a result. Bolt-on insurance products such as contract hire GAP insurance, car warranty cover, key loss insurance and even tyre insurance are not affected by speeding convictions, although anyone previously convicted of a fraudulent insurance claim may need to speak to their insurer about eligibility.

Some Tips To Keep Your Car Insurance Down

Distractions are the major cause for accidents in the UK. The tips below will remove potential distractions and help you to be a safe driver.

•  Removing your car's ashtrays may help you to avoid the temptation to light up.
•  Don't drink and drive, even if it is a soft drink. Spill the drink and you will end up in  a bigger spill. Do not drive while eating. Greasy fingers will get you into a sticky situation.
•  Don't get carried away with the match on the radio. You could end up being literally carried away.
•  Stay off the phone - and this includes texting! It is not a digital umbilical cord. You have a messaging service so use it.

You can usually get a better deal by using an insurance company that does not penalise first-time offenders.