Leslie : Is DUI driving the only issue for auto insurance or are there any other measures being taken for stopping auto accidents. Is this also high risk as per auto insurance.

Response : Leslie, this is an excellent question. the next biggest problem other than drunk driving in the US is the problem of text messaging or distracted driving. This is another factor which is considered to be a big issue and high risk. Unfortunately for the insurance companies, just like the fact that many drivers do drunk driving or drive under influence but are not caught. Thus in spite of being a high risk they escape with paying a low premium. Likewise till date the persons doing text messaging or distracted driving are a high risk but are not caught.

Text messaging is now banned and so those caught with this offence have to pay only some fines, however, the person who is involved in an accident will naturally pay a higher premium on account of the accident on the record. I would not be surprised if the insurance companies do start considering this offence also as high risk , and rightly so. There are incidents when woman also have caused serious and fatal accidents because of this.

Leslie, one should stay away from drinks, text messaging and all other distractions whilst driving since it is your life at risk also. DUI car insurance, sr 22 car insurance and claim records all are high risk and costly insurances for anyone.

 Jeff  : I was just caught for impaired driving crash? I am aftaid that I would be considered a repeated offender? Is it true that alcohol-imparied driving crashes caused by repeat offenders? Are the auto insurance rates for repeated offenders different?

Repsonse : Jeff, I would not worry much if you are strong willed and have taken the right measures so that this would never happen to you again. It is not uncommon to have one impared driving offence.

No. It is true that people with prior convictions for driving while impaired by alcohol are overrepresented among drivers in fatal crashes. According to a federal study, drivers convicted of alcohol-impaired driving during the past 3 years are at least 1.8 times as likely to be in fatal crashes as drivers with no prior convictions during the same time period and are at least 4 times as likely to be in fatal crashes in which drivers have high BACs (0.10 percent or higher).¹³

However, in 2007 only 8 percent of drivers in fatal crashes with high BACs (0.08 percent or higher) had previous alcohol-impaired driving convictions on their records. The actual incidence of previous convictions could be higher, because information on convictions was available for only the prior 3 years. In addition, some alcohol offenses are not included on driver records because of court programs that allow drivers to remove or avoid a conviction if they attend educational programs. Still, most alcohol-impaired driving fatal crashes do not involve drivers with a long history of multiple alcohol convictions.

Repeated offenders might have their license cancelled and so will not be able to drive. DUI might be asked to apply for DUI insurance and SR22 car insurance.