Monitor your driving habits, save money?

[kstar]

Would you let an insurance company monitor your driving habits if you could save up to 40% on your car insurance?

Progressive is offering such a program. Apparently you plug a device into your OBD port and it keeps track of your driving and sends reports wirelessly.

Here's the PR from Progressive:
http://newsroom.progressive.com/2008/June/myrate-launch.aspx

[Rick Lee]

No f&cking way! You might get a 40% break once. But step out of line and that discount is gone forever and you don't even need to get a ticket to have your rates raised.

[Rick Lee]

I should add that I'd not be averse to something like this if it could monitor my using my turn signal all the time, not chatting or texting while driving, practice accident avoidance and a whole host of other things that no one seems to care about, but are vital to safe driving.

[KFC911]

I would consider one...










































...but only if it's installed in my grandmother's car

[speedracing944]

Easy. You just need Mega Squirt to send false signals to such a device. BLAM! instant 40% savings.

Speedy

[Joeaksa]

No way. Its one of the first steps of Big Brother entering in our world.

Now if I could turn it on and off thats a different story! Wonder if you could?

Is there power on the OBDII port when the ignition is turned off? Simply pull the puppy out when you are going to be driving "sporty" ...

[kstar]

Don't many new cars come with a black box installed?

I think Big Brother is already here.

[island_dude]

Wow. I can't see the value in this. You can still cause a lot of serious accidents driving the speed limit. I can think of a thousand reasons why I might greatly exceed the limit that have more to do with preserving my hide than risking it further. No way I would ever consider it.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Nope. Not a chance. They know too much as it is.

[pwd72s]

The State of Oregon (big brother) ran a pilot program on such devices...the line given was so it could collect a miles traveled gas tax. Sure...that's what they said.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

One more reason to like older cars.

Electronics is one of those things that's like the government. When they tell you "it's to help you", run.

I like my P-cars for EXACTLY this reason. There's not a single piece of electronics crap in them (well, the 944 has a computer for the ignition & fuel delivery, but at least I understand that system). Pure, simple, the way it should be.

[Noah930]

No F'n way.

[azasadny]

Are you kidding? With a MazdaSpeed3 ? No way!!

[Tobra]

I might consider it if they were paying for the gas, and it was a 100% discount on the insurance, otherwise, no dice

[FastCarFan]

Originally Posted by kstarnes

Don't many new cars come with a black box installed?

I think Big Brother is already here.

I believe many (most? all?) manufacturers currently do use some sort of "black box" in new cars. They can gather info on speed, brake usage, probably steering input, etc. However, I have read that there are legal questions about who "owns" the data in the black boxes.

If you own the car does that mean you "own" the data captured by the black box? If that is the case, it cannot be used against you in an accident investigation unless you offer it to investigators.

The counter argument being used by law enforcement is that they can access the data as part of their accident investigation.

As I undersdtand it, the "issue" is far from being settled.

In addition to law enforcement, car manufacturers also want to data for their purposes (vehicle design/performance, liability protection, etc.).

Interesting issue....

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Rip the electronics schit out of the car. End of debate.

[Aerkuld]

If you read the press piece it tells you that you can opt which vehicle(s) you fit it to, assuming you have multiple cars insured. In my case it might be beneficial to put something like this in the Expedition which only gets used as a tow vehicle and occasional weekend use. My 996 as my DD is a different matter altogether.
Thinking about it for a minute, unless that device has a GPS feature and an internal clock how would they know what time of day it was being used or where the vehicle was on the road?

[john70t]

On-star is now manditory on all 2008 GM vehicles. Plus, On-star has real-time GPS and a built in microphone, for convenience.

Isn't it nice to know someone cares about you? Vote with your wallet.

[Dantilla]

Only on the race car. Let them figure THAT one out.

How do I save 40% of zero? The race car has no insurance.