Under the insurer's voluntary program, Drive Wise, small wireless devices are installed in cars and record such things as mileage, hard braking and maximum speeds. Customers who sign up can get discounts of up to 30% depending on how safe or few miles they drive.
For consumers concerned about Big Brother, Allstate said the device tracks only factors used to calculate a driving score, including mileage, hard or extreme braking, and maximum speed. Speeds of more than 80 mph hurt the score.
But some Big Brother type questions arise:
- What about in the event of an accident? Who controls the data?
Could information be subpeona'd as part of a criminal investigation?
So what happens if you get a bad score? Incrase in premiums?
- OPINION: Bottom line is maybe having driving habits monitored will help reduce accidents? Maybe people will think twice before they go wild behind the wheel?