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Given that all American motorists are required by law to have auto insurance, you will want to be able to pay the lowest premiums possible on yours. Here are four ways you can drive more defensively to avoid getting into a situation that could see your premiums increase.
Although it can be a frustrating experience when the car in front of you is driving under the speed limit, resist the temptation to tailgate in an attempt to annoy the driver or get them to increase their speed. Rear-ending a car could get you and/or the other driver seriously injured in addition to causing your insurance premium to go up. It is also a serious driving offense to tailgate as you will be given a fine of $85 and 5 points on your license if you get caught. Accruing 1 more point after that in 3 years or less will result in being charged a fine of $150. Don’t let an attempt to save time end up costing you money instead.
We all hope to spend the least amount of time driving as possible, but speeding on the way to your destination can end up costing you more of your precious time if you get pulled over by a police officer or get into an accident as a result. Not only can speeding make you lose time, it can also make you and other motorists lose their lives. Over 11 thousand deaths were found to be linked to speeding in 2020, a year when people likely drove less frequently than usual.
Traffic lights and signs serve as guides to help drivers drive safely and alert them of any hazards on the road. Therefore, disregarding or disobeying them can result in a dangerous situation that makes accidents more likely to occur. Even if there does not appear to be any oncoming traffic at that stop sign or red light, a police officer may be present, or a car may come at any time and get into a collision with your car. If you are determined to be at fault, your auto insurance premiums can go up.
Driving conditions are not always ideal, so you must be prepared to be able to drive during certain weather events such as rain, snow, and fog. When it is raining, keep your windshield wipers and headlights on and drive more slowly than you normally would to avoid hydroplaning. You should also drive more slowly in snowy, icy, or foggy conditions. If you encounter a flooded or snow-blocked road, turn around rather than try to drive through the hazard. Always use your low beams in fog, never high beams — the increased light emitted by the high beams will reflect off the fog and reduce your visibility!
Contact American Insurance today to get in touch with an agent who will help you find the best auto insurance plan for your needs!
Sources:
https://www.njticketattorneys.com/traffic-violations/tailgating-njsa-394-89/
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/speeding/