With the explosion in the use of cell phones and other hand-held devices, it was only a matter of time before car insurance companies began asking how often these devices are involved in motor vehicle accidents. The newest part of the equation is texting while driving, where you’re using one or both hands to text while still trying to maneuver the vehicle. If this describes your driving habits you might want to ask yourself whether or not a ticket for texting while driving will increase your car insurance rates.

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Texting while driving is a very dangerous practice that should never be undertaken. It is more dangerous than eating, changing the radio station, or even talking on your phone, because texting requires that your eyes and hands be directed at the cell phone rather than focused on the task at hand. And since your eyes and hands are the two most important parts of your body involved in driving, texting while driving is a recipe for disaster.

According to the Federal Communications Commission’s “Texting While Driving” guide, this practice is a serious problem in the United States. The FCC cites 2008 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing that as many as 16% of all fatal car accidents are caused by people sending texts while behind the wheel.

That translates to nearly 6,000 people killed annually. In addition, the statistics show as many as 515,000 injuries resulting from these same type of accidents.

Is it illegal to text while driving?

As of 2011, texting while driving is illegal for all drivers in 14 states. Of the remaining 36, 10 restrict new drivers and one restricts commercial drivers. In most states where there are no current texting while driving laws, the push is on to get them on the books as soon as possible. There are five states, like New York, which completely ban the use of hand-held phones in any manner while driving; a trend most of the currently non-covered states are pursuing.

In addition to banning the use of cell phones, many of these states are also looking to make their laws comprehensive enough to cover all sorts of distractions. This may mean an end to the fast food drive-through, at least where drivers are concerned, as eating while driving is also another dangerous practice. Insurance companies are mostly in support of these new laws because it’s safer for drivers and better for business.

Why would insurance companies care if I texting while driving?

Like it or not, car insurance is a business that must operate under certain parameters in order to stay in business. The most important parameter is that of profit. Business owners and investors are not likely to continue pouring money into a business that does not make a profit. Therefore, an insurance company must earn money for its owners and shareholders if it expects to survive. It cannot make money if it does not properly account for careless drivers who do dangerous things.

The cost of covering injuries and damage resulting from car accidents is extremely expensive. Not only that, but with medical costs climbing at an astronomical rate, paying out for car accidents is becoming more and more expensive with every passing day.

Any risky behavior, such as using a cellphone for anything while driving, increases the likelihood that your car insurance company will have to pay out a sizable claim. In order to reduce their financial losses and maintain their profits, they must charge a higher price for insurance.

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How high will my rates go if I’m caught texting while driving?

It’s difficult to say how high individual rates will go as the result of texting while driving, because there are so many variables involved. In states like Vermont, where it is illegal, texting while driving is a violation with a set penalty, providing insurance companies with a clear baseline. But in states where it’s not yet illegal, insurance companies must adjust rates by looking at other circumstances such as accidents, speeding tickets, or moving violations that may be related to texting.

Also playing into the equation is the fact that many drivers involved in accidents while texting don’t report their actions to the police officer investigating the crash. Since many states and local municipalities don’t require officers to ask whether or not cell phone use was involved, it’s estimated by insurance experts that most texting while driving incidents go unreported. To prove the point a survey was commissioned in 2008 among a group of average U.S. drivers.

According to the survey, some 45% of respondents said they had been involved in an accident, or a near miss, with another car whose driver was texting while driving. Additionally, 18% of respondents admitted to regular texting while driving and 80% admitted to talking on the phone while driving. So common are these practices that some experts believe cell phones are largely responsible for a steady increase in traffic accidents over the last 10 years.

What if my passenger is the one doing the texting?

Allowing passengers to handle the texting and talking for you while you’re driving is obviously a much better choice than doing it yourself. However, the nature of cell phones and texting means that their very presence in the car can be very distracting to the driver.

For example, if a friend sends a funny text that your passenger reads to you, it’s very tempting to want to read it yourself. Having the passenger lean over and show you the text is just as dangerous as if you had received it yourself.

Safety experts warn that cell phones and texting can be addicting to the point where they disrupt every area of our lives – including driving. It’s best to shut the cell phone off or put it in the trunk whenever you drive.

If you must use your cell phone behind the wheel, always use it hands-free for talking purposes only. Under no circumstances should you ever text while driving. If you do, you could very likely kill yourself or someone else. Is any text message really that important?

Even if you’ve received a ticket for texting while driving, you can compare the car insurance rates of America’s best companies for FREE by typing in your ZIP code below!