CLEVELAND — A new study has ranked Cleveland at No. 16 for distracted driving among major cities. Not only is distracted driving dangerous, but it can also impact your insurance rates, according to The Zebra, an insurance company who conducted the survey.
The company surveyed more than 2,600 people in 25 cities across the country to better understand the temptations of distracted driving.
These are the top five distracted driving behaviors in Cleveland:
- Texting
- Reading
- Picking your nose
- Eating
- Changing clothes
According to the study, Clevelanders were also the most likely to engage in sexual activity while driving. Twenty three percent of people surveyed said they have done this at some point.
Since 2011, insurance rates have skyrocketed, going from a few dollars on your monthly rate to a few hundred dollars per year.
"If you get a ticket for texting and driving, your rates are going to go up on average in the US about $806 per year, said Nicole Beck, director of communications at The Zebra. “That's 43% more that you have to pay. The reason for this is because the insurance company is notified, and a little light bulb goes off that you are a riskier driver. So, they're going to make sure that they're hedging their bets and thinking you are more likely to get into an accident and cost them money by filing a claim."
A distracted driving violation can impact your insurance rate for about three years. So when you add up traffic fines and court costs, checking your phone can cost you more than $1,000 in insurance costs.
