Driving History Seen As Predictor Of Individual’s Lifespan

It appears that bad drivers live shorter lives than good drivers and not just because they get in accidents.

The same motor vehicle driving records already widely used to help determine how much a consumer pays for car insurance can also be used to predict the potential length of an individual’s life. According to a new study, motor vehicle records shed new light on lifestyle risk and can help life insurance executives, actuaries and underwriters better structure insurance policies in the U.S.

The Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Mortality Study completed by LexisNexis and RGA Reinsurance Co. analyzed more than 7.4 million MVR requests and determined they are a predictive data source of an individual’s all-cause mortality — meaning one’s likelihood of dying in general, not just in a vehicle.

The researchers found that individuals with major violations, such as alcohol-related infractions and excessive speeding, have all-cause mortality rates that are 70 percent higher than individuals who do not.

Additionally, the presence of six or more driving violations on an MVR elevates an click here for rest of article-

-Taken from Insurance Journal July 11, 2012