Being monitored by insurance company while you are driving, it seems very unpleasant. But if this will help to lower your car insurance, what will you think now? There are some insurance companies who have introduced a device to their customers, which will record driver’s driving history by plugging into the diagnostic port. The safer the driver drives, the more possible it will be to lower insurance premium. But customers are still wondering because they are afraid that the insurance company will charge the device eventually. Will this new technology bring both customers and insurance companies benefit? It depends on how they react to this new policy.
We shall notice that the insurance increase from year to year. After insurers sign the policy, some become careless. Because they have a higher deductible amount, they would care less about being involved in a small accident or some scratches on their vehicle. They will claim them all to the insurance company. Since the frequency of claiming gets more and more often. The insurance companies have to increase insurance in order to cover their cost. And this device will reduce the number of accident in some ways. The device monitors drivers and send the data to the system. If the result shows a driver has a good driving habit, it will not only reduce the insurance but also help reducing insurance companies’ cost. From the article, it states that “In other parts of the world, including Europe, the U.S. and Japan, such devices have been used for years, with insurers claiming they result in fewer accidents, fewer insurance claims and more consumer choice”. (Paragraph 7) It seems like this new technology turns out to be a win-win. Which is bringing benefits to both customers and insurance companies.
Here are some advantages that those insurance companies pointed out. Drivers can track their behavior online, which will help them to recognize and change their driving habit. Insurance companies also promise that information collected will not be used to punish drivers. The policy will only bring benefits to customers.
Some customers still doubt that the insurance companies will pass on charge the device eventually. Insurance companies denote that customers do not need to pay anything for using this device. But with the introduction of a new technology, insurance companies will need workers to maintain the system. They need employees monitor and analyze the data. Although, from the article, “Desjardins says it won't need to pas on any additional cost to the consumer because the program will end up saving the company money by attracting good drivers as new customers and improving the driving of existing customers” (paragraph23).
However, people tend to use this technology to engage in more dangerous behaviors, ignoring the always-present risks. The ABS system is used by car, and it makes the brake more reliable and decrease the risk of accidents. However, “the drivers [use] the additional element of safety to enable them to drive faster and more recklessly without increasing their risk of getting into an accident” (p289). People like to use the technology in a different way, so an unexpected result always comes after. They use the technical measurement as an excuse, make it be responsible for their naive behaviors. “Why are more pedestrians killed crossing the street at marked crosswalks than at unmarked crosswalks? Because they compensate for the ‘safe’ environment of a marked crossing by being less vigilant about oncoming traffic” (p289). It is kind of a self-comforting; people create a safe environment to palsy themselves. Most of them immerse in this “safe” environment, and do not realize their dangerous behavior because they subjectively think the technology is more advanced than before, and allows them to engage hazardous behavior with absolute safe. Ironically, the fact is the inverse of what they think. As an economist says, “they ‘consumed’ the risk reduction, they didn’t save it.” (p289) As the result of doing more dangerous things, tragedy often happens. On the other hand, people should not be surprised if it
These sort of programs have shown immense help in the number of fatalities on the road today. Along with these kinds of programs there have been several laws put in place that ban cell phone use while driving. In Syracuse, N.Y. there have been strict laws against handheld cellphone use and texting and driving, and they have been extremely effective (Copeland, 1). Law enforcement saw over 70% of texting driving put to a halt. Transportation secretary Ray LaHood said, “Over half a million people are said to be injured, and thousands more are killed in distracted driving accidents” (Copeland, 1).Another very effective campaign that will probably soon be known world-wide is “Phone in one hand, Ticket in the other”(Copeland, 1). Most people in todays world would be familiar with the “click it or ticket” phrase that has allowed people to be reminded to put on your seat belt. Just as this campaign reminds people to wear a seat belt the “Phone in one hand, Ticket in the other” is designed to remind drivers that it is far too dangerous to be interacting with your phone while driving (Copeland,
Insurance companies exist to make money. They are not concerned with your needs which include great coverage at an affordable price. Their agenda consists of offering superfluous offers, causing you as a customer to lose money on frivolous items that won’t ever benefit you.
While driving down the turnpike do you ever see an auto before you that is swerving or accelerating and backing off? At that point you think to yourself, "I would prefer not to take after behind or be in the path right alongside them." So you accelerate, and beyond any doubt enough the driver is utilizing their mobile phone. Actually, I am certain you have. Mobile phone utilization while driving is not just disappointing for different drivers; it is exceptionally perilous to all drivers who are on the road. At the point when a driver is utilizing a mobile phone, it doesn 't make a difference what sort of individual they are, or what their age is, or their sexual orientation, accidents don 't demonstrate any
In his political journal of law, Gregory Odegaard states that “an increased percentage of insured drivers not only reduces insurance costs for all motorists, but also promotes public safety because fewer drivers will flee the scene of accidents” (A Yes or No Answer: A Plea to End the Oversimplification of the Debate on Licensing Aliens).... ... middle of paper ... ... Works Cited Barteldes, Ernest.
Companies like Google, Tesla and Nissan, among others, have announced over the past few years that their companies are trying to develop self-driving or autonomous cars [Ref. 1 and 2]. Self-driving cars can provide many benefits to the average consumer. Studies have shown that because computers can react and process information many times faster than a human being, crashes on streets and roads can be decreased with quick and consistent evasion maneuvers by the autonomous car. They can also help maximize fuel economy by calculating the most direct and fastest routes. When the driving of an autonomous car demonstrates that the computer can safely and reliably transport the passengers to their destination, this frees up the passengers to do other things that they would not normally be able to do if they were driving the car manually. For this reason, self-driving cars can help maximize productivity of their passengers.
Nissan Motor Corporation is the automaker that seems to be the leader in safety technology. They implemented many features such as intelligent cruise control and advanced rear-view backup cameras to their vehicles. “The low-speed following mode operates at speeds under about 40 km/h to maintain an appropriate following distance in congested traffic, thereby helping reduce the driver’s workload” (Nissan 7). A teenager may get stressed out when trying to drive in high-traffic situations. Nissan is helping them by using an intelligent cruise control that will slow down and speed up traffic while staying a distance away from the driver in front of them.
Another safety benefit of the self-driving car is the issue of unsafe teen drivers on the roads. In a study conducted by Sheila Sarkar and Marie Andreas, fifty five percent of 1,430 teenage drivers admitted to engaging in risky behaviors while driving (Sarkar 687). The newscast regularly reports about fatal car accidents which involved teen drivers who were racing or driving drunk. In addition, teen drivers are a novice on the road and have a learning curve, this at times can be dangerous. Self-driving cars would not have the learning curve nor would they have the urge to drive unsafe like many teens
Inventors hope to help people with autonomous cars because “autonomous cars can do things that human drivers can’t” (qtd. in “Making Robot Cars More Human). One of the advantages that driverless cars have is that “They can see through fog or other inclement weather, and sense a stalled car or other hazard ahead and take appropriate action” (qtd. in “Making Robot Cars More Human). Harsh weather conditions make it difficult and dangerous for people to drive, however, the car’s ability to drive through inclement weather “frees the user’s time, creates opportunities for individuals with less mobility, and increases overall road safety” (Bose 1326). With all the technology and software in the car, it can “improve road traffic system[s] and reduces road accidents” (Kumar). One of the purposes for creating the driverless car was to help “make lives easier for senior citizens, people with disabilities, people who are ill, or people who are under influence of alcohol” (Kumar). It can be frightening to know that that we share share our roads with drivers that could potentially endanger our lives as well as other people’s lives. How can people not feel a sense of worry when “cars kill roughly 32,000 people a year in the U.S.” (Fisher 60)? Drivers who text while driving or drink and drive greatly impact the safety of other people, and Google hopes to reduces the risk of accidents and save lives with the
These technologies have made driving an easier and enjoyable experience, as well as reducing our chances of getting into accidents. The research presented in the following article “Driven to Distraction [in car technology]” provided surprising conclusions. Professor John D. Lee from the University of Iowa states the following issue: “Technology is changing very quickly. Many of these things coming into the car were not designed to be used in it. ”(Edwards 8).
Automotive executives touting self-driving cars as a way to make commuting more productive or relaxing may want to consider another potential marketing pitch: safety (Hirschauge, 2016). The biggest reason why these cars will make a safer world is that accident rates will enormously drop. There is a lot of bad behavior a driver exhibit behind the wheel, and a computer is actually an ideal motorist. Since 81 percent of car crashes are the result of human error, computers would take a lot of danger out of the equation entirely. Also, some of the major causes of accidents are drivers who become ill at the time of driving. Some of the examples of this would be a seizure, heart attack, diabetic reactions, fainting, and high or low blood pressure. Autonomous cars will surely remedy these types of occurrences making us
The engineering that goes into a driverless car covers all areas of mechanics, computing software and so on which still tends to frighten some drivers of its monstrosity on the inside. In the article “Google Cars Becoming Safer: Let the Robots Drive” it states that, “The economic lift from ridding the roads of human-driven vehicles would be over $190 billion per year. That would primarily come from reducing property damage caused by low-speed collisions”(Salkever). The point is that when driverless cars hit the road the cost of low-speed collision and save consumers money will be reduced. In the article “ Google Driverless Cars Run Into Problem: Cars With Drivers” Slakever states that “One Google car, in a test in 2009, couldn’t get through a four-way stop because its sensors kept waiting for other (human) drivers to stop completely and let it go. The human drivers kept inching forward, looking for the advantage — paralyzing Google’s robot”(Bosker). Current drivers have never followed the rule of the road, which have made the road more prone to any accident. Drivers have found the upper hand on not following traffic laws that makes manufacturing driverless car more meticulous to decrease accidents and breaking traffic laws. The fact that driverless car sensors can detect the errors of other human driven car is extraordinary. Human driven cars are trying to stick to the status quo of the roads when in reality human driven cars are breaking valuable innovation that will make the roads safe for generations to
In a 2010 WHO report on road accidents, the number of fatalities that occurred due to road accidents is 1.24 million worldwide. This means the current safety measures on vehicles are not enough. Much is being done in this area though. Computers are now being intensively being involved to counter any human error that causes accidents, apart from mechanical interventions in car designs. Utilizing radars and sensors, vehicles can now maintain safe distance from other vehicles (Adaptive cruise control). Antilock braking and air bags have been in use for quite some time. Driver Alertness Detection System (DADS) can sense driver’s alertness and prevent accidents due to sleepiness. Preventive systems that act upon the alcohol content in ones breath are also being tested. But probably the holy grail of preventive measures would be a self driving car. From pages of science fiction to reality, self driving cars are now being tested actively. Google has taken the lead I this technology and other major players like BMW, Mercedes, Audi etc. are also in the
The insurance for just a day, is it really worth it? This question repeats in my mind every time I go and purchase an insurance of this type. Insurance for a day, a month or even a year is always good since an accident can happen in a matter of seconds. You need to be prepared to handle the situation. Driving an unfamiliar vehicle in new cities or highways increases the chances of being involved in an accident.
When I look past what's inside the Ford Focus LX Premium versus the SE Comfort, I can see many of these technological advances for what they really are: unnecessary risks. The fact is that the number of accidents (and deaths) increases as a direct result of driver distractions, and more technology only provides more distraction. Unfortunately, manufacturers realize a high tech GPS system can sell for a lot more than an improved seat belt. Protection of human safety should be the primary concern of transportation regulations and in-vehicle technology developments. So while other people continue to drive while calling in to check voice mail, worrying about finishing off the Big Gulp Slurpee, and buying a GPS navigator to find the fastest route to grandma's house, I'll know I drove away from the dealership with the safest option: focus.