“It Can Wait” Texting and Driving Do Not Mix

April 3, 2016

If you drive the highways around the Southern Tier of NY you have likely seen the green New York State “Text Stop” signs along the side of the road. The signs are placed to remind drivers that texting while driving is not only illegal, but is also highly dangerous. According a Center for Disease Control (CDC) study 9 people are Continue Reading

According a Center for Disease Control (CDC) study 9 people are killed on US roadways every day as the result of distracted driving which includes texting while behind the wheel. More, the National Safety Council estimates 341,000 of crashes in 2013 involved text messaging.

There is no questions that cell phones make staying in touch with family and friends easier. They are also an effective tool in responding to and reporting an emergency. Easy to carry, simple to use, it is hard to imagine a time without the convenience of the nearly instantaneous communication they provide to us. That being said, texting while driving is on of the most dangerous forms of distracting driving for several reasons:

In response to the dangers of texting while driving many manufactures are equipping their new cars with a hands free text reader feature. The feature connects to your cell phone via Bluetooth and will “read” any incoming text messages out loud through your car’s audio system. The feature may also allow you to respond to text messages via voice commands. Though new technology such as the hands free feature may help with lessening the risk, bottomline, as the New York State signs say - “It Can Wait”. There is no text message that is more important than is you arriving safely at your destination. Keeping your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel and to avoid the temptation of looking at a text message when driving, placing your cell phone out of sight will help keep you, your passengers and your fellow drivers safe.

Have questions about how your safe driving can affect your auto insurance cost? We would LOVE to help. Please feel welcome to call us at 607-324-7500.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Auto Rates and Finger Prints: Both are Unique to You!

By Jeff Ryan • April 7, 2026

Factors You Can’t Easily Control These factors are built into your profile, but still play a major role: Your location: Claim trends, traffic, and weather patterns where you principally drive. Your age and driving experience: Especially for younger drivers. Other drivers in your household: Their age and driving history. The vehicle you own: Unique to the Year, Make, Model, and Sub-model’s damageability and cost of parts/labor. These factors significantly influence price differences, but they don’t tell the whole story. Factors You Can Control This is where habits and wise decisions can make a real difference: Your driving habits: Minimizing tickets and accidents can have a direct impact. Your coverage choices: Liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages can vary widely. Your insurance consistency: Avoiding lapses in coverage. Your annual mileage: How much and how often you drive. Discount opportunities: Bundling, pay-in-full, NYS defensive driving course. Your Insurance Score (Yes—You Can Influence It) Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as part of their rating process. While it’s based on financial behaviors, it is not permanent—and it can be improved over time. Simple habits like: Paying bills on time Reducing outstanding debt Avoiding excessive credit inquiries… can positively impact your score—and in turn, your insurance rates. Your insurance score is under your control and a worthy mid to long-term project in and of itself. For more information on what you can do to positively influence your score, see: Great 8 Tip #8 - What's Credit Got to Do with Insurance? How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score Why Comparing Rates Doesn’t Work When someone says, “I only pay…” , the uniqueness of their fingerprint is missing. What are their: Deductibles Driving history Insurance score Household profile Coverage limits: what they may be giving up in terms of protection. Price without context can be misleading and discouraging.