The Insurance Council of Texas has sounded the alarm, declaring that home and car insurance rates are sky-high, and bad driving paired with nasty weather are the culprits, KXAN reports. It seems drivers are forgetting their manners on the asphalt, careening back post-pandemic with a need for speed and hands glued to their smartphones rather than the steering wheel.
Since the good ol' pre-Covid days, insurance costs have been steadily chugging uphill—with a steep 20% incline going into 2021, followed by a 10-15% surge entering 2023. "Those COVID years where there was pressure to keep rates down are kind of catching up to us now. So for the most part, most insurers are going to be raising premiums," Rich Johnson, the council’s community director of communications and public affairs, stated in the KXAN report. To try and cushion the blow, folks like Austin resident Riley Anderson, who gawked to discover his monthly payments, have made a sneaky $50 leap without him noticing.
But wait, it's not just bad drivers causing insurance claims to soar. Texas' own unique weather patterns also lead to costly home damage. As reported by KXAN, the rising costs of building materials are sending premium prices through the stratosphere. And if you think you got discounts, Johnson's advice? "It’s a competitive market; it’s a competitive business. So go out there and shop," he recommends, always the voice of reason per KXAN report.
The cavalry's here, with AAA Texas teaming up with the Insurance Council to launch "Survive the Drive," a campaign with the hopes of massively turning around the state's hairy driving habits, CBS News reports. Daniel Armbruster, Senior Public Affairs Specialist for AAA Texas, did mince words—impaired driving deaths spiked up over 22% from 2019 to 2022.
So, what's the game plan? Armbruster's got a few tricks, like chucking your phone in the glovebox or handing it over to your buddy riding shotgun. It's time "to go back to those habits where we're driving slower, driving more safely, and driving less distracted," Johnson said as per CBS News report.
