All drivers have to take a written test to prove how well they know the rules of the road, before the driving test is even allowed to be taken. We are then taught how to drive with an instructor, in a cautious manner, adhering to the road rules at all times. Statistics show that the leading cause of motor vehicle accidents is disobedience of these rules. These include, but are not limited to, not stopping at traffic lights, stop streets, not indicating a turn, speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Traffic police are clamping down more and more on driving offenses, and fines can be hefty, sometimes, depending on the seriousness of your offence, you could even be imprisoned. Having a mark like that on your criminal or driving record can have dire consequences on your car insurance premium. These companies will take your criminal and driving record into account before calculating your premium. They do not just check whether you have had accidents in the past, but also what kind of driver you are. If you make a habit of getting tickets for speeding, driving under the influence and the disregard of road rules, you will be seen as a much higher risk person to insure. This has the ability to greatly raise your insurance premium, as you will be seen as potentially being more likely to have an accident.

There are ways and means of lowering your vehicle insurance premium if you have a bad driving record. You can take an advanced driving course or a registered traffic safety course. Some insurance companies will offer you a discounted premium if you can prove you have been on one of these courses. This is to show that you are brushing up on your driving schools and refreshing your mind on the rules of the road and will put them at ease against your likeliness of being in an accident.

Prevention is better than cure. The best thing you can do is to drive as safely as possible. Watch out for road signs at all times, and ALWAYS adhere to the speed limit. One of the worst traffic offences to have under your name is speeding, but even worse than that is driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs. Ensure that you never drive whilst intoxicated, as this can lead you to straying in your obedience of the rules. Don’t think that just because you do not see any other cars on the road that you do not have to follow a certain road rule as closely as you normally would. You never know when a speed trap or traffic officer is waiting around the corner!

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