Traffic signals and violations have a bigger impact on your car insurance premium than you think. To maintain affordable insurance rates, apart from your credit score, age, location, vehicle usage and vehicle type, you will also need to be careful on the road.
Traffic Signal Colors and their Meanings
A foundational understanding of the basic traffic signals is essential to ensure that you are following the necessary traffic rules and driving safely.
If you are a new driver or just a driver who wants to brush up their traffic signals’ knowledge, here are some of the major signals you need to know about.
| Traffic Light | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red Light | Stop immediately |
| Yellow Light | Red light is coming, get ready to stop unless you can’t do it safely |
| Green Light | Go |
| Flashing Red Light | Stop moving |
| Flashing Yellow Light | Slow down, move carefully. This sign indicates that tricky situations such as a school crossing can be ahead |
| Red Arrow | You can’t turn in the direction it is pointing |
| Yellow Arrow | You won’t be allowed to turn soon. Stop slowly and wait for a green light |
| Flashing Yellow Arrow | You can make a turn, but you will need to be cautious |
| Green Arrow | You can turn in the direction the arrow is pointing at |
How Do Traffic Violations Affect Car Insurance Premium?
Traffic violations can directly impact your car insurance premium. Drivers with traffic tickets are considered riskier by insurance companies. The degree to which these violations affect your premium can depend on the nature of your offense and even the state you live in.
Here ae some of the traffic violations that can majorly affect your premium:
Driving Under the Influence (DUI/DWI)
You can be charged with a DUI if you are driving while being impaired by drugs or alcohol. It is often considered a very serious traffic offense. A single DUI can raise your insurance premium up to 73.7%. Typically, this stays on your driving record for three to five years but in some states like California it can be on your record for 10 years.
Even if you feel confident about driving after a few drinks, always take a taxi, public transportation or have a designated driver who is 100% sober. Not only will DUI get you a huge fine and increased premium, but it can also lead to accidents or injuries. You can also face license suspension or even imprisonment when you drive under the influence.
Speeding
Speeding might seem like a minor offense but just one speeding ticket can increase your insurance quote by $422 annually. Make sure you are mindful of the speed limit whenever you drive. Your ability to maneuver your car, especially in curves or turns, is a lot better when you are not speeding. Driving under the limit is not only good for avoiding fines or higher premiums, but for remaining in control of your vehicle.
Texting While Driving
Our phones have become such an important part of our lives. Most teens and adults feel the urge to check their phones every few minutes. But when you are driving, keep your phone away at all costs. You might feel like it will only take a few seconds to check a text or reply to a message. But it also only takes a few seconds to cause an accident.
You will be highly fined for texting while driving. Oregon has the stiffest penalty for this violation with a maximum fine of $1000 for a first offense. A third offense within 10 years can even put you in jail for six months.
This violation can increase your insurance premium for up to three years. Some companies might not even renew your policy or offer coverage. On the bright side, you might even get discounts if you allow insurance companies to monitor your cell phone use while driving and they find you are attentive to the road.
Ignoring Traffic Lights
If you don’t stop at a red light or a stop sign, it is regarded as a traffic violation too. Red light cameras are installed in many places all over the country, so if you think you can quietly sneak by a traffic signal or light, you will be mistaken. Not only is this traffic violation one of the major premium increasing factors, but it can be very dangerous for you and others to disobey a traffic signal.
Can Crashes Caused by Faulty Traffic Lights be Claimed?
You might be able to claim that a faulty traffic light caused an accident. However, this mainly depends on the state you live and the traffic regulations of the area. If your state allows such claims, you will need to gather evidence like photographs or videos showing the malfunction, testimony of witnesses and maintenance records.