Slow Down for School Buses to Avoid a Rate Hike
We all know what happens when a school bus comes to a halt. The blinking stop sign flips open, telling drivers to come to a complete stop. Not stopping for a school bus is a major traffic violation. It could result in the death of a minor. Drivers may receive a ticket, fines, or other penalties. Considering the risk that comes with not obeying a stop sign, car insurance companies will often raise premiums for drivers that fail to comply with this law. If you forget to come to a stop, don’t be surprised when your monthly premium goes up.
How Much Will Your Rates Go Up If You Don’t Stop for a School Bus?
A traffic violation or ticket of any kind can increase the cost of your monthly car insurance premiums. Illegally passing a school bus while it is stopped will likely affect your insurance premiums just like a speeding a ticket.
A recent analysis from Forbes Advisor shows that drivers who get a ticket for not stopping for a school bus tend to see their premiums increase by around 29%, but the price of the increase will vary on a range of factors, including where you live, your driving record, and what type of vehicle you drive.
It’s important to note that you will only see a premium increase if you are caught violating this law. The ticket will be listed on your driving record and reported to your insurance company.
Every state processes these incidents differently. Most states assign “points” to drivers that incur traffic violations. The more points you have, the higher your premiums.
Insurance companies have a right to increase your premiums or even cancel your policy if they feel you are too much of a risk to be insured.
The study from Forbes looked at the records of 13 major auto insurance companies. It found that the price of the increase for not stopping for a school bus was as high as 51%. New York drivers had the lowest average rate increase with only a 9% hike, while drivers in North Carolina were hit with the highest average rate increase at 82%.
You should never pass a school bus when it is parked, and the stop sign is on. You run the risk of endangering the life of a child. States have school safety laws in place to protect children while they are getting on and off the bus. Be sure to slow down and come to a complete stop to avoid running into trouble with the law.
A traffic violation will likely increase the cost of your insurance premiums. Practice safe driving to keep your premiums as low as possible and contact Summit Insurance to find the best rates on Pheonix car insurance.
Insurance increases after a ticket for failing to stop for a school bus – Forbes Advisor