Whether your state calls it DWI, DUI, or DUII, drunk driving is dangerous not only for the driver but also for passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, and property. And driving drunk with a child in the car, who has no choice but to be there, should be treated as a serious crime.

Leandra’s Law

New York evidently felt this way in December 2009 when the state passed Leandra’s Law, which made it a felony to drive under the influence with a child under 15 years old in the car.

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It is not easy to get an auto insurance quote for young drivers like teens and student drivers. The fact is that such drivers, with their inexperience behind the wheel along with their somewhat more reckless nature, are the cause of many accidents and also get more tickets than more mature drivers. Insurance companies know this, and they know that by insuring them, they are more likely to have to pay out on a claim than if they insure an older and more experienced driver. As you are calling around and getting quote after quote for the young driver in your house, you no doubt understand this fully or you are starting to understand it with each high quote you get back.

The honest truth is that you likely will never find an auto insurance quote for your young driver that is equivalent to your coverage price. Read more…

An innovative new device can help drivers get cheap car insurance.  Jolie O’Dell’s article “Insurance Company Tracks Driver Responsibility With In-Car Device” on Yahoo!News describes the “Snapshot” program.  The device plugs into cars to track the responsibility of drivers.  If it shows that you are responsible, you can get up to 30% off of your car insurance premium.  Progressive auto insurance is offering this device in New York right now, but hopes to bring the program to other states soon.

Progressive monitors drivers for 30 days with the small device that plugs right into the diagnostic port in your car.  The “Snapshot” tracks what time of day you drive, how frequently you drive, if you make sudden stops, and other driving behaviors.  Drivers who drive less often or during the least busy driving times will get larger discounts off their car insurance premiums.  There is no GPS with the device so drivers don’t have to worry about being tracked or losing privacy.  This high-tech device may be used by other insurance companies in the future.

Do you remember when you were a teenager and how exciting it was when you are about to get your brand-new drivers license and you couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel? Just being a teenager was fun, but driving a car is like whipped cream with a cherry on top. But that excitement dwindled when you learned about getting auto insurance.

Usually young drivers are included on their parents’ insurance policy, which is common practice among most families until the teenager is older. However, you might not save very much unless the young driver doesn’t drive any “high risk” autos that are insured and their history is already clean. Fortunate

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