April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and is shining a spotlight on the deadly and costly trend of distracted driving. Recent studies and data point to startling increases in auto accidents along with a corresponding impact on insurance costs, and much of the increase is being blamed on distracted driving – especially the use of smartphones while driving.
Fatal auto accidents across the nation increased by 7.2 percent in 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Even worse, distracted driving-related auto fatalities increased 32 percent in Washington the same year. A new observational study conducted by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) reported that 71 percent of the time, when distracted driving was observed in the study, it involved the use of a mobile device (cell phone).
The increase in auto crashes is impacting insurance costs, as well. Nationally, the average expenditure for auto insurance has climbed to $926, and the Washington Insurance Commissioner’s office reported that on average, auto insurance rates among the state’s top 20 insurers increased 5.9 percent over the past year.
Insurers say loss costs – payments made to treat injuries, repair damaged vehicles and property and defend insured drivers in legal actions – have jumped 16 percent over the past two years. While individual companies weigh rating factors differently, loss costs are typically reflected in premiums paid by consumers.
“The cause-and-effect impact of distracted driving – and in particular, the use of mobile devices while driving – are evident in the data,” said Kenton Brine, NW Insurance Council President. “Crashes and fatalities – even car vs. pedestrian accidents – are increasing, and with each new tragic accident come other costs – including higher insurance rates.”
WTSC has launched a statewide initiative called Target Zero that aims to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Washington’s roadways to zero by the year 2030. As part of Target Zero, nearly 150 law enforcement agencies in Washington are adding extra patrols April 3-16 to specifically look for and ticket those who are distracted by cell phones while driving.
“This show of force calls attention to the public safety threat posed by drivers being distracted by texting or talking on their phones,” said Angie Ward, program manager at WTSC, the organization funding the extra patrols. “We want drivers to understand that you can operate a car. Or you can operate your phone. But you can’t be safe and do both at once.”
All distractions are a reason for concern, but cell phone use while driving is the riskiest distraction for drivers. According to WTSC, talking on a cell phone increases crash risk by three times. Entering text into a smartphone increases crash risk by 23 times, and drivers talking on the phone, even hands-free, can miss up to 50 percent of what is going on in their driving environment.
At this time, Washington legislators are considering bills (HB 1371 and SB 5289) to strengthen penalties against the use of hand-held devices and to penalize other distracted behaviors committed by drivers. Lawmakers proposing distracted driving bills believe that expanding the definition of illegal cellphone use while driving and increasing fines for violators will help save lives. Insurers supporting the legislation say that stopping the dramatic rise in smartphone and distraction-related accidents is key to managing rising claims costs.
“The best defense against auto crashes and higher insurance costs is simple,” Brine said. “When you’re driving, keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the road, and your mind on your driving.”
Texting while driving is banned in 46 states and talking on a hand-held device while operating a motor vehicle is banned in 14 states, including Washington. Even with those laws in place, distracted driving – spurred by increased interaction with smartphones – has become one of the most dangerous hazards on roadways today.
The NW Insurance Council will be distributing a series of news releases about distracted driving during the month of April. For more information about distracted driving or auto insurance, contact NW Insurance Council at 800-664-4942 or visit www.nwinsurance.org.
NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, public-education and public policy organization funded by member insurance companies serving Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
