Automotive Black Boxes
You know it’s coming. Those black boxes they have in airplanes are coming to your automobile (some already have them). Technology like this cannot be stopped, it’s to easy too implement and the “apparent” benefits are too great. The benefit is that law enforcement doesn’t have to do as much work trying to figure how fast you were going before you hit that other car, just plug in and download. Crash data from a passenger airliner is considerably different, were talking about your personal property being potentially used against you. California has enacted a law to protect people from having this data used without them knowing it’s there.
Most current devices only record a few seconds of data prior to a airbag deployment. It’s very easy now to record hours and hours of data and it’s only a matter of time before these black boxes can do the same.
But what if you could use that data to prove to your insurance company that your a good driver? Progressive Insurance is doing just such a thing. As I understand it here’s how it works: the device plugs into your ODB interface. It records everything your vehicle does. You take the data from the device and review it on your computer. From there you decide if your driving was good enough for a discount, send it off to the insurance company (It’s your choice). As a male living in New Mexico my insurance rates are pretty high. If this was offered to me I would do it, and when I drive down the road I would remember I can save a significant amount if I just obey the speed limit, stop at the red light, use my signal. If they can work out the eventual “where’s my data going” issues it could work out for those that are really safe drivers. The almighty dollar may just speak enough to make some slow down.
Related Items:
Speed Limit JUMBO 15 MPH Aluminum Street/Garage SignBrand New Reflective White With Black Letters .040 Aluminum Speed Limit 15 MPH Sign
12" x 18" White Aluminum & Black Sign
Outdoor Durable, White Reflective Sign Can Be Seen At Night
2-Pre Punched Holes Top & Bottom For Easy Hanging
Square Sign Has Rounded Corners
Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church: Eyewitness Accounts of How American Churches are Hijacking Jesus, Bagging the Beatitudes, and Worshipping the Almighty DollarA master of satire with a theological black belt, Becky Garrison shines a bright light on hypocrisy from both sides of the political spectrum, exposin... Read More >
I think black boxes in cars r just weird… if people have them in their cars, they r obviously going to drive well… which may endanger the public… and what happens if a little kid runs out in the road? They cant tell there was a kid, they just know u swerved, which can lower ur discount… it just doesn’t work out
Interesting. I think some of the rental car agencies have similar boxes, but they prevent you from exceeding the speed limit by some preset amount… Which is fine until it’s that extra mile per hour that you needed to get out of the way of the oncoming truck.