We see them every day. Someone drifting across lanes, running through stop signs or driving well below the speed limit while talking, texting or checking something on their smartphone. Someone driving distracted. 

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, dedicated to educating and eliminating the scourge of inattentive drivers on America’s highways and byways. Unfortunately, too many of us are making bad decisions behind the wheel, and there is much more work to be done.

Five Most Distracted Cities

TrueMotion, a company that uses sensors and driving information to help make roads safer, analyzed the data from thousands of vehicles to determine the areas with the most distracted drivers in America. Their findings:

1. St. Louis
2. Phoenix
3. Atlanta
4. Salt Lake City
5. Fort Worth

The states with the most distracted drivers were Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Missouri and Louisiana.

Here’s the scary part – TrueMotion found drivers in the most distracted areas were not paying attention almost 20 percent of their time behind the wheel. You wouldn’t want to be a nearby pedestrian or driving next to them during one of their many lapses.

You Know the Danger

Let’s face it, every city has distracted drivers. They are not only a nuisance, but a danger to us and the ones that we love.

The problem of distracted driving continues to increase. Sixty percent of us admit to taking our eyes off the road to text, check social media or look up directions. The National Safety Council estimates that at least nine Americans die and 100 are injured every day in distracted driving crashes. One study found that 84 percent of us feel threatened when we see a driver concentrating on an electronic device, rather than traffic and the roadway. One recent study concluded that people talking on the phone while driving were as impaired as someone who tests for the legal limit of blood-alcohol.

What Can You Do?

Despite collision avoidance systems, the accident rate continues to climb. Traffic experts warn that inattentive and aggressive driving is the cause for all too many crashes. Here are some defensive driving tips that can help you avoid these drivers:

• Keep scanning the area ahead and behind you
• Drive with both hands on the wheel to better respond to dangers
• Don’t follow too close
• Slow down in bad weather
• Have an escape plan
• Avoid driving when tired or drowsy

You can also help stop distracted driving:

1. Set a good example for others. Many teens say while their parents lecture them about texting or not paying attention while driving, their parents text or fiddle with phones while they drive
2. Turn off phones or use the text and call blocker when driving
3. Plan and review trip directions before driving, and pull over if you need to read or program navigation systems
4. Create music or podcast lists before setting off on your drive
5. Don’t drink, eat, or do other actions (grooming, turning to talk to others, etc.) that could be a distraction while driving

Teaching young drivers is one of the best ways to prevent this type of driving behavior. That’s why California Casualty is proud to be a major sponsor of Impact Teen Drivers, a nonprofit formed with the law enforcement and education groups that uses peer-to-peer tactics to educate teen and young adults about the dangers of distracted and reckless driving. Learn more at https://www.calcas.com/web/ccmc/impact-teen-drivers.

Experts recommend that everyone take a defensive driving course to learn these techniques. It can also help you get a discount on your auto insurance.

Before you hit the road, make sure you have adequate protection in case you encounter a distracted or aggressive driver. Call a California Casualty advisor today for an auto policy review, at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.  

Sources for this article:
https://www.nsc.org/road-safety/get-involved/distracted-driving-awareness-month
https://archive.unews.utah.edu/news_releases/drivers-on-cell-phones-are-as-bad-as-drunks/ https://gotruemotion.com/blog/the-most-distracted-cities-in-america/
https://www.distraction.gov/
https://www.drive-safely.net/defensive-driving-tips/

This article provided by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.

A friend or relative needs your help, their car is out of commission and they want to borrow yours for a quick errand. You like to think of yourself as nice and helpful, so of course, you say “yes”. While it may seem like a kind gesture, letting them use your car is actually putting you in a bad position.

What many people don’t realize is that auto insurance follows the vehicle, not the driver. That means when you lend your vehicle to someone, you are also lending them your coverage. While you lent your car for free, it could end up costly for you.

Here’s why; when we loan a car or truck to a friend or relative, that’s called permissive use. If you have “broad protection insurance” they are covered by your vehicle’s insurance policy. While most accidents will be covered, you could be liable if people are seriously hurt in the accident and the medical and other expenses are more than you are insured for. Those injured parties could sue you for medical costs, time lost from work and property damage.

Yep, you weren’t driving, but because the accident involved your vehicle you will have to:

• Contact your insurance company
• File a claim
• Pay any deductibles
• Cover expenses beyond your insurance limits
• Prepare for a probable rate hike resulting from the accident

Here’s something to keep in mind: a permissive operator is a person who does not reside in your household, is not listed on the policy as a household member, and is operating the vehicle with your permission. A crash caused by a permissive operator will most likely be covered.

However – and this is very important – if you have named an excluded driver on the policy, insurance will not pay for damages caused in a crash by the excluded driver, even if they were using your car or truck in an emergency. So, before you let someone else use your vehicle:

• Check that they have a valid driver’s license and insurance
• Make sure your insurance policy will cover them if they have an accident
• Contact your insurance company for a policy review and that you have adequate and broad protection
• Be ready to accept the consequences if they cause a crash

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.