The Dangers of Texting While Driving

The dangers of texting are becoming pretty apparent to most people these days, including teen drivers. Almost every day, we hear sad stories about people losing their lives in car accidents where cell phones were someone involved. In response to these different events, there have been bans in several states across America that prohibits drivers from using cell phone while they are on the road.

While many people believe that this is not right, there are many who believe that such a ban is just what we need to make sure that the roads are safer for everyone from smart cars to tractor trailers. If no one is looking down at their laps for a text message, then there is a better chance that they will be looking up at what is in front of them on the road.

What’s the Danger?

Cell phones act as distractions to drivers. Simply put, in order to text, drivers have to hold their phones in one hand and only have one of their hands on the steering wheel. This is bad practice that can result in drivers losing control of the wheel. Many accidents have happened this way and it’s one of the very real dangers of texting while you are behind the wheel. Texting not only requires you to drive with one hand, it also requires you to look down at the screen. Every moment that your eye is on the screen, it is not on the traffic in front of you.

Not looking at what is in front of you increases your chances of being involved in a crash. It’s as simple as that when you think about it. Every time you take just a few quick moments to send a text you are putting yourself in danger as well as everyone else out on the road. To be a responsible driver, you need to consider your own safety as well as the safety of other while you drive.

Making Your Experience Safer

If you really need to speak to someone when you are in the car, texting is not the best way to do so. Although calling someone on a cell phone when you are driving is distracting as well, it does not always mean that your eyes have to be diverted from the road. At most, you will be driving with one hand and holding the phone with your other. However, there are many phones these days that have hands free kits that allow drivers to keep both hands on the wheel and keep talking. In fact, a lot of cars actually have phone lines piped in through OnStar and you don’t even need to be holding anything or have an ear piece in your ear.

While this option is not perfect, it is something better than texting while driving. Even if you are mentally distracted by being on the phone, you can still keep a watchful eye on the road. If you happen to see something, you have a better shot of avowing an accident than if you were texting at the time.

Another way to get away from the dangers of texting while driving is to simply pull over if you have something to say that is important. It will only take a few minutes for you to stop somewhere and send you message. If you have a really urgent need, call instead of sending a text. This is a simple thing to do, but it could really save so many lives when people are driving.

How Speeding Tickets Affect Your Car Insurance Rates

Learn how speeding tickets affect your rates for car insurance, and you will be in a better position to get a good deal when you go to compare car coverage quotes. A lot of people falsely believe that speeding tickets will not affect their insurance rates at all; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Although your record of tickets is just one thing that insurance companies look at when they are deciding on rates, they do look at this issue carefully.

Why It Matters

Speeding tickets are important to insurance companies than the color of your car because they indicate that you are a risk taker. The more risks you take while you are out on the road, then the more likely it is, in their eyes, that you are going to be involved in a car accident in the future. As a result of this belief, a lot of insurance companies will look at your history of speeding tickets and then use this information to signify how much of a risk you are to insure.

Some statistics indicate that those who get tickets, such as speeding tickets, are more likely to be involved in a collision. Insurance companies take information like this very seriously because they don’t want to lose money. If they think that they are going to lose a lot of money by insuring you, then they are going to charge you higher rates for your premiums.

How it Works

All driving incidents, including when you get a ticket for an accident or speeding will be assigned a number of points by your state. These points become key when you are applying for a policy with an insurance provider in your area. As soon as you commit one of these incidents, you will automatically get points put on your record. They become a permanent part of your driving history, which companies look at when deciding to offer you coverage, unless you get them taken off in some manner. Generally speaking, the more points a person has on his or her license, the great the likelihood of that person to have to pay higher rates for insurance.

Fortunately, there are ways to get these points taken off. Most of the time, points for speeding tickets can be taken off for taking driver’s education courses. By completing these courses, you are demonstrating your commitment to being a safe driver at all times on the road.

The Whole Picture

Remember, though, that insurance companies want to get a whole picture of you as a driver. It is unfair to say that because you have speeding tickets in your past, you are automatically going to be charged higher rates for your premiums. All companies are different and will charge you based on their own standards. These standards are difficult to predict and thus it is difficult to say just how much of an impact that speeding tickets have on your rates when you apply for car insurance.

In addition to your speeding tickets affecting rates, your potential insurer will also look at your whole driving history. If you have been a good driver throughout most of your time behind the wheel, then this is likely to count in your favor. If you have been in accidents or other traffic-related incidents, then that is likely to count against you when you go to get a policy. Just be as honest as you possibly can and you will get the most fair quote that the providers have to offer someone with your level of risk.

Get Defensive - Did you know if you pass a defensive driving course, you could save on your car insurance premium? To learn more about defensive driver discounts give me a call (717) 260-5263. I'm here to help you!

Helpful tips about car insurance - If you have younger driver's on your policy, you could earn a discount if he or she passes a driver's education course. If your child has a "B" average or better, he or she could be eligible for a discount up to 15% on some coverages. Call me about your car insurance and let me help you get the discounts your deserve for you and your family.

Types of Auto Coverage

Everyone who drives needs car insurance. In fact, most states require it by law. When you buy car insurance, your are buying what is called a policy. Your policy is based on a variety of factors including what kind of car you drive as well as what kind of insurance you want. Auto insurance policies are actually a package of different types of insurance coverage.

The first step in understanding an auto insurance policy is to learn the various types of coverage insurance companies, like my company, the Steven Edward Lewis Agency offer. Some coverage may be required by your state and some of the coverage may be optional.

• Liability - This coverage pays for accidental bodily injury and property damages to others. Injury damages include medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages. Property damage includes damaged property and automobiles. This coverage also pays defense and court costs. State laws determine how much liability coverage you must purchase, but you can always get more coverage than your state requires.


• Collision - This coverage pays for damages to your vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle or object.


• Comprehensive - This coverage pays for loss or damage to the insured vehicle that doesn't occur in an auto accident. The types of damages comprehensive insurance covers include loss caused by fire, wind, hail, flood, vandalism or theft.


• Medical Coverage - Pays medical expenses regardless of fault when the expenses are caused by an auto accident.


• PIP - Personal injury Protection (PIP) is required in some states. This coverage pays medical expenses for the insured driver, regardless of fault, for treatment due to an auto accident.


• Uninsured Motorist - Pays your car's damages when an auto accident is caused by a driver who doesn't have liability insurance.


• Under Insured Motorist - Pays your car's damages when an auto accident is caused by someone who has insufficient liability insurance.


• Rental Reimbursement - This type of coverage will pay for a rental car if your car is damage due to an auto accident. Often this coverage has a daily allowance for a rental car.

Many insurance policies combine a number of these types of coverage. The first step in choosing the insurance you want for your car is to know the laws in your state. This will tell you the minimum insurance you need for your car. It's good to keep in mind that, just because your state may not require extensive insurance, extra coverage may be worth the expense. After all, no one wants to be struck with thousand of dollars worth of bills because of an auto accident. These are just choices we all have to make to best suit our personal situations.