The average car insurance premium for safe drivers is lower than high risk drivers. If your premium has been increasing because of your driving history, it’s never too late to reverse that trend by turning a new leaf with your driving habits. You will have to focus 100 percent on your driving, drive defensively, and obey the traffic laws.
One of the most important of these laws is the one many drivers routinely violate: not speeding. Why is it routinely violated? Because it’s easy to do and the plush interior of a car insulates you from sensing the true dangers of speeding. Many people who never experienced the violence of a high-speed accident fail to appreciate the danger.
Why Speeding Is So Dangerous
Your ability to steer and brake is determined by the traction of your tires with the road. This traction remains the same regardless of your speed. Steering nimbly and braking effectively at a high-speed (like you can at a low-speed) requires more tire traction. This is something you don’t have and is why you can’t stop on a dime or make hard turns at interstate speeds.
The faster you drive, the less control you have over your car and the greater your risk of getting into an accident. Accidents at higher speed also increase the damage to your car and the severity of injuries. These increase the amount of your insurance claim, which increases the premiums you pay.
What Is Speeding?
There are many ways you can speed. One of these is exceeding the posted speed limit. Perhaps your car can “easily” handle the road at speeds higher than the posted limit. However, it only seems that way when nothing goes wrong. If a car suddenly makes a turn in front of you, you’ll have less time to react, your brakes will require more distance to drop your speed, and your steering is less nimble. Exceeding the speed limit leaves you with little safety margin to spare.
You can also speed by driving too fast for the conditions. The posted speed limits are meant for perfect road conditions. Poor conditions such as damaged or wet pavement reduce your car’s braking and steering capabilities. If you get into an accident while driving at the posted speed limit in poor road conditions, you may be found at fault.
Poor conditions include poor visibility such as when driving in fog and in heavy rain. Driving to the speed limit in severely congested traffic is also driving too fast for the conditions. For example, if the posted speed limit is 65 mph, attempting to drive at this speed in stop-and-go traffic that’s crawling at 15 mph will either cause an accident or get you pulled over by the police.
Reduce your speed and avoid traffic tickets, accidents, injuries, and high insurance premiums. The people who benefit from your safe driving include yourself, your passengers, and the driving public.
Finally
If you want to discuss options for car insurance, please call us at 561-732-9305. Our quoting hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. In addition, you can request a quote online. Please remember, We Handle All the Work, While You Save!
Robert Macoviak is the President of Oyer, Macoviak and Associates. Oyer, Macoviak and Associates is the oldest independent insurance agency in Boynton Beach and has been in business since 1953. Oyer, Macoviak and Associates are vested members of the community who are committed to doing business face-to-face and being your insurance advocate in times of need.
