Distracted by their smartphones, America’s drivers are becoming more dangerous by the day. And it’s pushing auto insurance rates even higher as insurers struggle to keep up. Costs associated with crashes are outpacing premium increases for some companies, and insurers say the use of smartphones to talk, text and access the Internet while on the road is a new and important factor behind the wrecks.
In a recent survey, 36% of people admitted to texting while driving, and 29% said they access the Internet. The survey also found that 52% of respondents own a smartphone.
The average U.S. car insurance premium rose to an estimated $926 in 2016, up 16% in 2011, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The number of deadly accidents jumped 7.2% in 2015.
Although cellphones have been in use for years, they were not as distracting when people brought smartphones into the car and began texting and web surfing and videoing while driving.
