Thread: Someone explain this to me.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Our government needs to pretend it has popular support and is acting for the common good.

LOL and again to get 10 characters LOL

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The next progression here is what if the company made it a requirement and then all the other outfits followed suit?

If "the" company made it a requirement, buy your insurance from another company. Because there is not universal demand for such devices, there is NO WAY all companies would require it without the government mandating it. If a government did require insurance companies to mandate the use of such devices, it would be for companies in their state only, in which case you could move to another state. I would not expect any state Department of Insurance to ever consider such a requirement, with the possible exception of California, who cannot seem to avoid meddling in EVERYONE'S business. Oh well, at least sunny California isn't drowning in debt with businesses leaving the state in droves or anything like that...Hmmm...never mind.

Originally Posted by eflatminor

Because there is not universal demand for such devices, there is NO WAY all companies would require it without the government mandating it.

Isn't that what we used to say about baggage fees?

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

Isn't that what we used to say about baggage fees?

+1. If a company can prove that they can make a profit,however small, by doing something, you can guarentee that every other company will follow suit like lemmings jumping off a cliff.

Your smart phone tracks your every move now. Just try a site like GeoGroups or DeviceLocator. Some one knows where you are every min. Not to be 'over the top' but they probably have voice tracks of all of us. After 180 days your email belongs to the government.
If they paid me to do all of this, I happily take it!

I have Progressive and use the device in my car. It saves me around 25% on insurance over what they were charging without it but then again who knows how the rates would balance if no one used these devices with Progressive and they had to rate you by averages. It has a cell modem in it so I don't have to send it back ever, it constantly sends the data back and I can view my behavior on the web immediately following a trip. It beeps if I hard brake and in my opinion is a bit on the soft side of a real hard brake. Sometimes it beeps when you make a perfectly normal stop. I find myself slightly more dangerous driver with it because sometimes I will coast through the red otherwise I am sure it will beep but it does make me look further ahead down the road and plan out my behavior to compensate for it which might in the end be the safe way to drive. Ofcourse I might not see the old lady pull out right in front of me or the blended pedestrian j-walking when my eyes are fixed 300 feet down the road.

One thing about it that bothers me is they subtract data fees for the cell modem from your discount. I mean in the end sure it was 25% off but then add back in 15% of data fees. Seems like if they want this data they should pay those fees.

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

Isn't that what we used to say about baggage fees?

I fly Southwest. No baggage fees.

Originally Posted by Theseus

+1. If a company can prove that they can make a profit,however small, by doing something, you can guarentee that every other company will follow suit like lemmings jumping off a cliff.

Sure, if profit is assured, others will follow. The difference with this device we're discussing is that it doesn't necessary mean more profit for the insurance company, just better information about the driver, which allows carriers to price the exposure with more specificity. I know for a fact that folks that are willing to install these devices tend to see their premiums decrease. Whether or not that translates to more profit for the insurance carrier depends on many factors that will play itself out over time. As it stands today, these devices are designed as retention tools and perhaps a way to attract new customers that have no problem with divulging their driving habits.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

you just gave your insurance company all the info it needs

when of course i say i can go as fast as i want i mean providing its within the speed limit or at the drag track.

The problem for me is that the Government should not need anything outside of what is required to protect and serve the people. There should be no committees, research centers, etc. That should all be private and privately funded.

It's the same concept regardless of who is doing it and I wouldn't volunteer for it either way, but I just have strong feelings about in what the government should be involved (and what it shouldn't).