What kind of habits do you have when behind the wheel of a car? Are you a good driver or do you just think you are? A bad driving habit makes you more likely to have an accident and you could be classed as a greater insurance risk.

One of the major causes of road accidents, fatal or otherwise, is driver distraction. As any distraction will result in a delay in processing information – and thus a delay in reaction time – distracted driving is dangerous driving. In the USA it is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that twenty-five percent of vehicle crashes are caused by distracted drivers. That’s some statistic, and one which is no doubt reflected at least in part here in the UK. Another alarming statistic reports that a person having a hands-free mobile phone conversation is far more likely to have a car accident than a person driving whilst four times over the legal alcohol limit.

Smoking and Driving:
In the UK, it is illegal to smoke on public transport. You can light up in the privacy of your own car but don’t let that fool you. The Highway Code states that smoking while driving is a breach of rules and classed as distraction. It is possible to receive a £2500 fine if you have a crash and are found to have been smoking at the time. The Scottish Highway Code banned smoking and driving in 2006, but this law has been in effect in Sweden for as long as I can remember.

In Canada, an Ontario trucker was fined for smoking in his rig. Police pulled over the trucker and ticketed him $305 for smoking in the workplace, a violation of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. In the UK it is also illegal to smoke in any vehicle which is used for work.

Snacking and Driving:
Spilling soft drinks while driving will cause drivers to lose focus as they attempt to stop further spillage onto their clothes or upholstery. Hot drinks are probably the prime example of why you should not try to snack or sip whilst driving. A spilled coffee can really hurt if it lands in your lap, and a road accident will hurt even more. Whether the drink is hot or cold, trying to recover from the situation causes the biggest distraction. Trying to munch away on a sandwich or snack whilst driving can be disastrous.

Listening and Driving:
A study by the Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging at Carnegie Mellon University showed that brain power used while driving decreases by 40% when a driver listens to conversation or music. Thankfully mobile phone use (unless using hands-free) while driving is already banned in the UK, and since Jan 1st in Canada too, but what about listening to the radio? A report by the University of Leicester entitled Football Focus suggests that almost two million motorists have had an accident or a near miss while listening to sport on the radio. There were some extreme variations in driver behaviour as the match went on. There were also significant changes in speed sometimes resulting in unexpected and dangerous lane changes.

Driving Convictions:
In the UK, a driving offence – whether driving while using a mobile phone, or driving under the influence of drink or drugs – will undoubtedly result in a conviction and loss of points on the driver’s licence. The more points a driver has on his licence, the more high-risk the driver. 12 points added to a licence within a three-year period will automatically ensure that licence is revoked.

When the banned driver finally gets his licence reinstated, it can be difficult to find an insurance company which will offer an affordable premium for future cover. To drive in the UK without insurance is a criminal offence and could carry a prison sentence if you are involved in an accident. A driver without insurance may also find his vehicle impounded, which incurs yet another cost. In the US it is not unusual for a vehicle to be permanently confiscated from re-offenders.

Insurance Hikes:
A high-risk driver is normally interpreted as one more likely to make an insurance claim and so their premium will be higher. The premium can often be so inflated that the driver may have problems affording car insurance entirely.

The majority of insurance companies are just after a quick profit so may not even consider the actual offence. What many fail to realise is that a driver who gets three points on his licence for speeding is more likely to stick to the limits in future and be the ultimate safe driver. The fear of extra points is often what breeds safe drivers.

Under these conditions, a driver with one speeding offence is actually penalised twice; once for the speeding fine and again for the higher premium. Bolt-on insurance products such as contract hire GAP insurance, car warranty cover, key loss insurance and even tyre insurance are not affected by speeding convictions, although anyone previously convicted of a fraudulent insurance claim may need to speak to their insurer about eligibility.

Lower Insurance Premiums Are Possible
Distractions play a major part in causing road accidents in the UK. Use these tips to remove the distraction and become a better driver.

•  Help yourself avoid the temptation to smoke by removing the ashtrays from your car.
•  Don’t drink and drive, even if it is a soft drink. Spill the drink and you will end up in a bigger spill.
•  Don’t eat and drive. Greasy fingers will get you into a sticky situation.
•  Don’t get carried away with the match on the radio. You could end up being literally carried away.
•  Keep off of your phone, including opening/sending text messages! It is not a digital umbilical cord. Pull over, or let your voice-mail do it’s job.
• Using an insurance company who does not penalise first time offenders will get you a much better overall deal.