Good drivers - looking beyond men vs. women

I didn't realize this, but many states rate good drivers statistically because they fall into certain categories. The following is excerpts from an article about how our Governor wants to change how they rate good vs. bad drivers. I like it as it would favor me (I fit into all the low risk categories), however, it doesn't really sound all that fair.

Most of us think a good driver is someone who hasn't had any accidents or speeding tickets in the last several years, but companies in other also consider living their life in a responsible manner.

The best risks tend to be drivers who live in suburbia, with an advanced degree, a white-collar job, and a strong credit score. Other positive attributes: female, married, between the ages of 35 and 64, and owner rather than renter. All other things being equal, a male construction worker with a poor credit score would pay more than a female accountant with an advanced degree.

''It comes down to being a responsible driver," said Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute, which is funded by auto and homeowners insurance companies. ''Responsibility is almost a direct correlation with risk."

In essence, a company's perception of a driver's risk of having a future accident would determine the premium he or she pays. In rate filings in other states, such big national carriers as Progressive and Geico make no secret of the dozens of nondriving yardsticks they use in helping to measure a driver's risk. Geico said its ''most favorable risks" were drivers with BAs or advanced degrees working as accountants, architects, dentists, engineers, judges, lawyers, pilots, teachers, veterinarians, physicians, executive secretaries with college degrees, and sales representatives with a high degree of technical knowledge.

The least favorable risks were ''nominally skilled clerks, assistants, postal clerks, and stock clerks. Also included were long-haul drivers, route men, unskilled and semiskilled blue and gray collar workers.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2005/07/24/what_makes_a_good_driver_insurers_often_say_lifestyle_job/