Insurance companies are big business, and today they are big data too. These corporations specialize in understanding risk—and if they don’t want to provide insurance to you because of an activity or occupational choice, it may be important to take note of that. The insurance companies have access to enormous amounts of information, and if they are worried—basically we should be too. It can’t come as much of a surprise to anyone though that distracted driving has caught the attention of the data-driven industry giants. Unfortunately, distracted driving is causing so much mayhem on the roads, much of it centered around smartphone usage, that it has superseded the attention formerly placed on drunk driving (which is still a substantial problem
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Texting is, of course, a deadly problem—and one that seems to continue to be a temptation for motorists no matter how much attention is brought to the issue nationwide. Many of us may be punished for the dangerous distracted driving trends of today as insurance companies blame significant losses on smartphone usage in the car—and begin to raise premiums even further. A recent Wall Street Journal article explores the new challenges insurance companies are facing as the enormous costs behind today’s accidents are causing them to lose money, with Michael LaRocco, chief executive of State Auto Financial Corp., referring to the problem as ‘an epidemic issue for this country.’
Statistics regarding distracted driving accidents may not even begin to demonstrate the true magnitude of the problem as many drivers do not admit to having their phones in their hands at the time of the motor vehicle incident. Many police officers and adjustors are delving deeper into accidents now to investigate possible distracted driving, along with the use of phone records in court cases. Distracted driving is a problem that continues to grow—and take lives. As it continues to take a bit out of insurance company’s profits, there should be even greater motivation to find ways to solve the
Texting is, of course, a deadly problem—and one that seems to continue to be a temptation for motorists no matter how much attention is brought to the issue nationwide. Many of us may be punished for the dangerous distracted driving trends of today as insurance companies blame significant losses on smartphone usage in the car—and begin to raise premiums even further. A recent Wall Street Journal article explores the new challenges insurance companies are facing as the enormous costs behind today’s accidents are causing them to lose money, with Michael LaRocco, chief executive of State Auto Financial Corp., referring to the problem as ‘an epidemic issue for this country.’
Statistics regarding distracted driving accidents may not even begin to demonstrate the true magnitude of the problem as many drivers do not admit to having their phones in their hands at the time of the motor vehicle incident. Many police officers and adjustors are delving deeper into accidents now to investigate possible distracted driving, along with the use of phone records in court cases. Distracted driving is a problem that continues to grow—and take lives. As it continues to take a bit out of insurance company’s profits, there should be even greater motivation to find ways to solve the