Almost two-thirds of U.S. drivers said they know they shouldn't use their cellphones while driving, but do so anyway, according to The Zebra, which reported an infraction for distracted driving can cause insurance rates to increase as much as 23%.

Further showing the insurance industry's hard stance on distracted driving, rate increases for receiving a distracted driving ticket have increased substantially since 2011, when a driver cited for distracted driving would pay about $5 more for car insurance than someone with a clean driving record, The Zebra reported, noting the penalty increased more than 7,000% during the past decade.

As with all things auto insurance, the premium increase following a distracted driving citation varies by state. Connecticut drivers face the steepest penalties, with rate increases of more than 60% on average. New York sees the smallest increase at just 4%.

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Steve Hallo

Steve Hallo is managing editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. He can be reached at [email protected]