California State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poisner will use the next few years to determine if the new law helps reduce the amount of accidents on the road.

“That should make it less expensive for auto insurance companies to do business in California. They’ll have less clients, because they’ll be fewer traffic accidents,” claims Poisner. “If that ends up being the case, and over the next year or so we’ll be looking at the statistics, then I will make sure those savings are passed on directly to the consumers.”

If Poisner’s research does end up benefiting drivers who follow the “Hand-Free” driving law, he believes those drivers who receive multiple citations should see their rates go up.

The California Department of Insurance is responsible for protecting insurance consumers and determining rates insurance companies are allowed to offer.

KCBS' Susan Kennedy reports

(pbo)