Being a “safe driver” can look great on your driving record and also
help your bank account, thanks to insurance discounts. But while most
people believe they are safe drivers, law-enforcement officials and
insurance agents may disagree. So what is a safe driver?
A driver who has one or fewer accidents or tickets over a period
of three years is considered a safe driver by insurance companies, and
may qualify the driver for safe-driver discounts. Some companies offer
added savings the longer a record is kept clean. Companies say that good
drivers offer them the least amount of risk, so it is only appropriate
to pass along the savings to them.
Despite today’s safer cars, almost 3 million people were injured
and approximately 43,000 people were killed in car accidents last year,
according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The
World Health Organization predicts the number of traffic deaths to
increase by 65 percent over the next 20 years, unless drivers step up
their skills. While laws on speeding, drinking and seatbelts have helped
the problem, insurance companies hope discount-savings talk will also
get more drivers to pay attention to safety.
