WalletHub Features Two More contributions from MIE’s Shannon Roberts as Transportation Expert
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The WalletHub website recently solicited the expert advice of Associate Professor Shannon Roberts of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) Department for its features on the “points” that are assigned to driver’s licenses after moving-violation convictions and on the amount that car-insurance rates go up after an accident. As an award-winning transportation-safety researcher, Roberts has become a regular technical expert on WalletHub covering a variety of subjects related to automobile safety, insurance coverage, and other transportation subjects.
WalletHub bills itself as “a platform that helps you compare and find the best financial products and services, such as credit cards, personal loans, insurance, and more.”
Roberts heads the Roberts Research Group, which focuses on studying human factors in transportation safety and understanding how drivers interact with technology and infrastructure to guide the design of driver-vehicle interactions. She is also the co-director of the UMass Amherst Human Performance Laboratory.
In this context, the August 19th WalletHub piece consulted Roberts to ask (among other questions), “What advice do you have for people who are worried about the number of points on their license?”
As Roberts responded, “Some, but not all, states use the point system for your license. You accrue points on your license for violations or infractions like speeding or driving under the influence. States which use license points often have an upper limit in terms of how many points you accrue (or how many violations you accrue) before you experience severe consequences, like having your license suspended or revoked. In addition to potentially having your license suspended or revoked, points on your license can impact your car-insurance rates.”
Roberts added that “The good news in all of this is that in most cases the points expire after a certain amount of time. Also, in some states, they allow you to take courses to reduce the number of points on your license.”
In a separate WalletHub feature on September 2 about how much insurance rates increase after auto accidents, WalletHub asked Roberts, “What is the best way to keep your car-insurance premium from going up after an accident?”
As Roberts responded in part, “The best way to keep your car-insurance premium low after a crash is to engage in other activities that are known to reduce your premium. You should focus on two things: (1) your record; and (2) your vehicle. To improve your record, take a safe-driving class to demonstrate that you are willing to educate yourself about the rules of the road. Relatedly, if you have the opportunity to expunge items from your driving record after you take a safe-driving course, you should pursue it. For example, you may get into a crash and, as a result, you receive a ticket for speeding or not wearing a seatbelt. Taking a safe-driving class afterwards can lessen the impact of those tickets on your premium.”