Valley motorists could save up to 30-percent on their car insurance if they can “prove” they’re a safe driver.
A program called the My Rate program helps lower risk drivers pay less. The program works by installing an on board diagnostic port under the steering column and plugging it in. The device is designed to monitor exactly what you do behind the wheel of your car from the minute you turn on the engine, to how often and how suddenly you put on the brakes. The device also measures your speed and what time of day you operate your vehicle.
The one-of-a-kind My Rate car insurance program, offered by Progressive Insurance, compiles your driving information and sends the data directly to a computer.
Richard Hutchinson from Progressive said, “This is a purely voluntary program.” It’s designed for ”people who think that they’re safe drivers” and people who want to earn up to a 30-percent discount on their auto insurance.
And while Progressive makes it clear that many parents feel the monitor is a benefit to keep them informed about how their teenagers are driving, it is in no way designed to track where your car is going. Hutchinson said, “One thing you need to understand is that there is no GPS in this device. So for consumers who worry that we’re tracking their whereabouts, we do not know where you’re driving.”
The My Rate monitor can be installed in any 1996 or newer vehicle. It’s free the first six months you use it with a five-percent discount on your premium. The benefits could drive down your insurance rates by hundreds of dollars or it could just shift your focus back to what’s most important… your safety behind the wheel.
