Locate cheap car insurance in Norman, a southern suburb of Oklahoma City. The seat of Cleveland County, Norman is home to the annual Chocolate Festival featured on both the Food Network and Southern Living magazine. The University of Oklahoma, established in 1890, remains a major economic driver and a center for scientific and technological research. It is the largest university in Oklahoma with an enrollment of about 30,000.

Meanwhile, visitors come to the city for its gaming casinos, the National Weather Center and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. The city celebrates the 1889 Great Land Run every year with the Norman 89er Parade, and its Medieval Fair is reportedly the largest weekend event in the state. As the hometown of actor James Garner, the city erected a statue to the “Maverick” star, who was born there in 1928. The population in 2016 was estimated at 122,180.

Driving Conditions in Norman

Interstate 35 runs through western Norman and continues into downtown Oklahoma City 20 miles to the north. Heavily traveled roads in Norman include State Highway 9 and U.S. Highway 77. Drive times into Oklahoma City depend on the time of day, as I-35 is typically congested during rush hours.

According to Census Bureau data, the average commute time for Norman is just over 21 minutes, shorter than the national average by four minutes. Nearly 80 percent of commuters in Norman drive to work alone. For updated traffic maps, construction and delay information, visit oktraffic.org.

Unique Laws in Norman

Norman’s city zoning ordinances limit single family homes to residents who are related either by blood, marriage or adoption or three unrelated people sharing common areas such as the kitchen and living room. The “three unrelated persons” ordinance, as it is called, was a result of over-occupancy of single family homes, city officials state.

Statewide, a recently enacted law in Oklahoma mandates that the left lane on multilane roads is for passing only. Exemptions include merging into traffic, making a left turn or moving over for a stopped emergency vehicle.

Oklahoma still has some interesting laws on the books, including a ban on making ugly faces at dogs, tipping over a casket at a funeral in Oklahoma City, putting a hypnotized person in a display window or reading a comic book while driving.

Norman Crime Statistics

Norman’s violent crime rate is below average while the overall property crime rate is slightly above.

Data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 2016 reports 329 violent crimes in Norman for the year, none of which were murder or manslaughter. The local violent crime rate of 269 offenses per 100,000 residents is below the average violent crime rate of 386 offenses per 100,000 in the U.S.

The property crime rate in Norman was 3,232 offenses per 100,000 residents, which is above the U.S. average of 2,451 incidents per 100,000 residents. Within the city, 431 vehicles were stolen in 2016, FBI data shows, a rate of 352 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is 236 incidents per 100,000 people.

Norman safety requirements

Oklahoma in 2015 became the 46th state to ban texting while driving statewide. The law is primary, meaning police can pull you over if they see you texting behind the wheel, even if you haven’t broken any other laws. Oklahoma law mandates everyone in the front seat wear a seat belt. Back seat passengers are not required to wear them unless they are under age 13. Children 8 and younger to ride in a car seat or booster, and a law enacted in 2015 requires children under two years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat. Those two to four may face forward and those over four can ride in a booster until their 8th birthday.

Norman impaired driving laws

In Oklahoma as most other states, a driver is considered legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol content or BAC of .08. Driving under the influence, or DUI, charges are enhanced if your BAC is .15 or greater. Convictions range from a license suspension to prison time depending on circumstances. Prior convictions stay on your record for 10 years. In Oklahoma, you can be charged with “actual physical control” or APC, which is a charge meaning one is intoxicated but in actual physical control of a vehicle – this can and has been applied to one who is simply sitting behind the wheel. It is sometimes called a non-driving DUI. For cheap car insurance in Norman, contact us for rate comparisons.