Younger Drivers Vulnerable Behind the Wheel, Pay More for Auto Insurance
Posted in Auto Insurance
January 8th, 2010
A recent study revealed that younger drivers are more at risk of a car crash when behind the wheel, which may have a negative effect on their auto insurance rates. The study, released by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, says that from a statistical standpoint, younger drivers are riskier to insure and thus usually will pay more.
Study Data of Younger Drivers Revealed
According to the study, the following was true of younger drivers in 2008:
- There were 26,660 total crashes involving drivers under the age of 21.
- Among these crashes, 8,966 of them resulted in injuries.
- There were also 138 fatalities from younger driver crashes.
Why Younger Drivers Cause More Accidents?
According to the study, there are a number of factors that contribute to younger drivers being more dangerous behind the wheel:
- Speeding
- Aggressiveness
- Eating and drinking while driving
- Impaired driving
- Becoming easily distracted (ex. changing radio stations)
- Using cell phones while driving
Because of these factors, auto insurance companies automatically charge younger drivers with being risky and thus raise auto insurance rates based on age. It may not seem fair, but this seems to be the practice.
If you are under the age of 25 and want cheaper rates, you could look for student auto insurance discounts and most importantly, shop around for affordable auto insurance rates.
What else can insurance companies do to defray the cost of younger drivers?