Coreece 190 #1 May 23, 2008 I called to renew my auto insurance policy and they told me that if I installed an autograph device, I would get an initial 5% discount and a 25% discount at my next renewal if the autograph showed I was low risk. The device monitors how fast you drive, the times you drive and how hard and how often you slam on your brakes among other things. Has anybody tried this yet? What are your thoughts or experience? I have mixed thoughts...I like the idea and the 25% discount is huge!!! but i also feel that somebody with a clean record thats been with the insuance agency for several years and has given them 30% of what the car initailly cost should get an automatic discount without having to be big brothered and waiting till the next renewal. Overall, I think its good. I guess it just the lack of privacy that we need to accept....or should we? Here is a little article on the device... http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Get-Cheap-Auto-Insurance-Rates-Using-A-Simple-Device&id=842690Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #2 May 23, 2008 It was only a matter of time I suppose. I'm not sure I like the idea since a slow driver doesn't always mean safe driver. People talking on their cell phones while driving tend to drive slower and they damn sure aren't being safe. I'm a damn good driver but when I'm on the freeway I want to go 80mph and that should be between me and the CHP not my insurance company.www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #3 May 23, 2008 The more risk classifications insurance companies come up with, the more pointless insurance becomes.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #4 May 23, 2008 QuoteThe device monitors... how hard and how often you slam on your brakes... In heavy, crazy traffic like Houston that is necessary all the time because of all the idiots who cut you off. It is not a sign that the person doing the braking is the one that is dangerous. So I'd be suspicious about how that data is interpreted. A work truck I drive a few years ago had a GPS phone in it, which monitored speed. Any high speed would be flagged on a daily report to the boss. It once registered me at 80 mph between two red lights in just one block. It was wrong, and obviously so, casting severe doubt on its reliability. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #5 May 23, 2008 QuoteQuoteThe device monitors... how hard and how often you slam on your brakes... In heavy, crazy traffic like Houston that is necessary all the time because of all the idiots who cut you off. It is not a sign that the person doing the braking is the one that is dangerous. So I'd be suspicious about how that data is interpreted. Yeah - better for everyone if you run down that kid. There's limited upside to this development - if they can force everyone to use it, the enticing rate discounts go away. And of course, may never show, since you have no idea what they consider a good driver. Using one also means you better go the speed limit, regardless of the normal speed of traffic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #6 May 23, 2008 "I'm a damn good driver" - yeah, you never see anyone saying "my driving sucks". Point of fact - regardless of how "good" of a driver you are, you still have more time to react to a developing situation if you're doing 70 than if you're doing 80, 90, etc...not to mention the danger that YOU are putting the other drivers in by going over the speed limit.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #7 May 23, 2008 QuoteIn heavy, crazy traffic like Houston that is necessary all the time because of all the idiots who cut you off. It is not a sign that the person doing the braking is the one that is dangerous. So I'd be suspicious about how that data is interpreted. No. But it IS a sign that the person operates the vehicle in a higher risk area. That's the way it goes. You slam on brakes? The person behind you will, too. And behind them. Etc. It's just the nature of the risk. Frequency of slamming on brakes does truly give a good indication of the risks involved. If a person is often driving while distracted, the person will have a tendency to slam on brakes more often than smooth braking. As for me - I'd liek to get a lower rate by showing how I drive (like an "old man" my wife tells me, but I think I drive wayyyy more slowly than Airtwardo). But I wouldn't like the idea of my driving record being digitized. I probably wouldn't take it. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #8 May 23, 2008 That's true. Noone ever says that. But the fact remains I've only been in 1 accident in the last 12 years and it was in a parking lot where a very old man t-boned me. Also I ride a motorcycle 90% of the time in southern California where being a damn good driver means a hell of a lot more than good insurance rates. I take driving/riding very seriously and the only time I drive 80 mph on the freeway is when it is safe to do. Preach to me about speeding if you want but in SoCal if you're going 70 in the fast lane all you're doing is pissing people off and making things dangerous for everyone around you.www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #9 May 23, 2008 Quotein SoCal if you're going 70 in the fast lane all you're doing is pissing people off and making things dangerous for everyone around you. Which ties right back into the 'reaction time' argument.... catch-22.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #10 May 23, 2008 QuoteQuotein SoCal if you're going 70 in the fast lane all you're doing is pissing people off and making things dangerous for everyone around you. Which ties right back into the 'reaction time' argument.... catch-22. No. Watching speed while ignoring following distance is crude at best. In LA they speed and follow at 1 second. On I-5, they superspeed (80-100) but typically have huge spacing except when they bunch up. These sensors measure what they can with GPS and accelerators, but obviously know nothing about external conditions. (maybe they look at the weather channel and assume you're in the rain?). The point of the data is to find ways to charge you more, not some grander notion about better safety. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #11 May 23, 2008 you are going to have to spell it out for me because I'm not seeing your point. www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #12 May 23, 2008 That's what makes going slow in the fast lane so dangerous. People bunch up, start changning lanes, and accelerate hard trying to get around the fucker. PErsonally I just sit back but suddenly I'll have 10 cars all passing on the right and accelerating hard to pass the one guy who could easily move over and let the pack through. Does he ever move over? Nope. He'd rather put us all in a situation we don't want to be in because "speeding is dangerous." www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #13 May 23, 2008 I've never had an accident....... seen loads in my rear view mirror tho' (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #14 May 23, 2008 Quote you are going to have to spell it out for me because I'm not seeing your point. Simple physics - if you're travelling at 80 mph, you have less time to react to a developing situation than at 70 mph. Re: post above about following distance - IIRC, the '2 second rule' was developed when the speed limit was 55 mph. A better rule of thumb for todays 70 mph speed limit would be 3 seconds or more, I would think.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #15 May 23, 2008 You can go 70 mph if you like. Just do us all a favor and stay out of the fast lane. www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #16 May 23, 2008 Quote That's what makes going slow in the fast lane so dangerous. People bunch up, start changning lanes, and accelerate hard trying to get around the fucker. PErsonally I just sit back but suddenly I'll have 10 cars all passing on the right and accelerating hard to pass the one guy who could easily move over and let the pack through. Does he ever move over? Nope. He'd rather put us all in a situation we don't want to be in because "speeding is dangerous." And if the people weren't speeding and keeping proper distance, they could get around the slower person without having to "accelerate hard", now wouldn't they? Additionally, studies show that every 5 mph increase over 60 mph drops your fuel economy by 1%.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #17 May 23, 2008 lol you've never driven in souther California have you?www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #18 May 23, 2008 Quotelol you've never driven in souther California have you? Actually, I have... spent several months driving in/around the San Bernadino area - and yes, they drive like fucking idiots.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #19 May 23, 2008 Quote And if the people weren't speeding and keeping proper distance, they could get around the slower person without having to "accelerate hard", now wouldn't they? Additionally, studies show that every 5 mph increase over 60 mph drops your fuel economy by 1%. The problem is more about following distance than speed. Human reaction time, even when focused, is only so fast. The consequence of higher speed is a harder collision when the following distance aspect is failed. Fuel economy is definitely hurt by speed, but you can't simplify it to 1% per 5mph. Vehicles differ. There does seem to be a growing trend of people slowing down to save on gas. Or people say they are - honestly I do so few freeway miles now that I can't even make an anecdotal observation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #20 May 23, 2008 QuoteQuote And if the people weren't speeding and keeping proper distance, they could get around the slower person without having to "accelerate hard", now wouldn't they? Additionally, studies show that every 5 mph increase over 60 mph drops your fuel economy by 1%. The problem is more about following distance than speed. Human reaction time, even when focused, is only so fast. The consequence of higher speed is a harder collision when the following distance aspect is failed.Quote Agreed - higher speed requires a greater following distance. Unfortunately, most of those speeding that I see pay no attention at all to following distance. QuoteFuel economy is definitely hurt by speed, but you can't simplify it to 1% per 5mph. Vehicles differ. There does seem to be a growing trend of people slowing down to save on gas. Or people say they are - honestly I do so few freeway miles now that I can't even make an anecdotal observation. The 5mph / 1% figure was giving as a rule of thumb and not gospel for all vehicles.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites downwardspiral 0 #21 May 23, 2008 Quote Quote lol you've never driven in souther California have you? Actually, I have... spent several months driving in/around the San Bernadino area - and yes, they drive like fucking idiots. Oh its even worse out there because you have all those people who are pissed off from having to commute on the 91 everyday. Fuck driving out there. www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
downwardspiral 0 #21 May 23, 2008 Quote Quote lol you've never driven in souther California have you? Actually, I have... spent several months driving in/around the San Bernadino area - and yes, they drive like fucking idiots. Oh its even worse out there because you have all those people who are pissed off from having to commute on the 91 everyday. Fuck driving out there. www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
