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Comments

• [1] O from Forest Hills August 06, 2008 - 10:08AM

  Yikes! They track everywhere's we go with the device.

  What's next, the movie "Minority Report" becoming reality?

  This is too much invasion of privacy for me. I am not a dog to be tracked.

  
  
• [2] Harvey Bernstein from Yonkers August 06, 2008 - 10:09AM

  The little old lady from Pasadena is not a candidate for this insurance plan.

  "There was nobody meaner than the little old lady from Pasadena. Go, granny, go"

  Lyrics: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/The-Little-Old-Lady-From-Pasadena-lyrics-Beach-Boys/51FEAF123526BB84482569820028E78F

  
  
• [3] Tony from San Jose, CA August 06, 2008 - 10:09AM

  I have been using Progressive's trip sense before they canceled it (and they paid me $50 every 6 months). The chip would also record my speed, when, and I drove.

  Also, I like the idea of having a black box, in case I get into an accident, I have more proof. It prevents me from driving above the speed limit.

  I live in California.

  Why did you cancel it? I want it back.

  
  
• [4] bridget August 06, 2008 - 10:16AM

  if you drive late at night, etc. and have all the "risk factors", but you have NEVER had an accident... would you be considering exceptional and given a steeper discount?

  
  
• [5] the truth from Atlanta/New York August 06, 2008 - 10:16AM

  This a good idea for drivers in the NY/NJ area, most people up there drive wild and out of control. There are rental car agencies in the south that won't allow you to take there cars into the NY/NJ area. I am scared for my mother driving there, she by the way would benefit from this.

  
  
• [6] dd from Manhattan August 06, 2008 - 10:17AM

  First, it does NOT monitor WHERE YOU ARE.

  This is good. Till now there has been very little to monitor and enforce against the most dangerous kind of driving--the jerky, speed/brakes/speed/brakes kind of driving.

  This system will finally help people learn not to drive like that. That kind of driving 1. kills people, 2. wastes gas, 3. pollutes the air.

  This is not big brother. You don't want it, don't get it.

  
  
• [7] westernqueensland from queens August 06, 2008 - 10:17AM

  Not only is this a great idea, but I think it should be extended by government. Driving is a privilege, not a right. I think all cars should be equipped with an ezpass-type device so we know where all the cars that are licensed to be on the roads are. Driving is not a right, it is a privilege (which non-drivers subsidize in numerous ways) where cars are is a public concern.

  
  
• [8] ansi vallens from Upstate New York August 06, 2008 - 10:19AM

  No one is asking the obvious question: Will this data be used to refuse a claim? Will Progressive guarantee that it wont?

  
  
• [9] Michael from Manhattan August 06, 2008 - 10:20AM

  Accelerating fast and breaking hard indicates a bad driver , not only in the city but ANYWHERE.

  I take it smooth and steady and time my at an intersection slowed by engine breaking and break as sparsely as possible . Idiots that accelerate up to a red light always bother me.

  Actually ther should be less accidents at night as there are fewer cars on the roads.

  When driving thru residential neighborhoods you should be driving at speeds that dont make it necessary to break hard.

  
  
• [10] ariel from nyc August 06, 2008 - 10:20AM

  Listener Rebecca ROCKS!!!

  
  
• [11] jen from Brooklyn August 06, 2008 - 10:21AM

  I agree with Rebecca - this segment is an inappropriate advertisement for Progressive. I don't object to the topic, but you have two guests who are in favor of it and 90% of the talking is being done by the Progressive representative. Doesn't seem very balanced to me.

  
  
• [12] Jacke from NJ August 06, 2008 - 11:34AM

  Yes it sounds like a wonderful idea but i must inject several negative comments

  Sounds like risk based life or health insurance based on predicting health risks using DNA testing or previous health history. I thought this approach has been rejected and that insurance is to spread the risk not concentrate it.

  A corollary of the above is that whether or not you like the idea of having big brother knowing more and more about you, you will be financially forced into the system because the insurance rates on the non-monitored drivers must rise as the better drivers are skimmed off into the monitored (and cheaper) group.

  It is possible (more like probable) that some of the gathered information will end up hurting not helping you

  Often money saving ideas dont end up that way. Most of the country bought into self service gas but now, somehow, we in NJ, where there is no self service gas, pay the least for gas. So dont bet this will keep rates down.

  Finally from the previous comments I'm amazed at how quickly and how cheaply so many willingly give up privacy and indeed freedom. Bring on the surveillance cameras, gps implants, block watcher grandmas.

  
  
• [13] joe August 06, 2008 - 02:41PM

  How do you prevent tampering? Someone could change their car's clock. There might even be a black market for modifying the device.

  
  
• [14] World's Toughest Milkman from the_C_train August 06, 2008 - 11:56PM

  This scares me more than the Govt watching my web access! I'm pretty sure that onstar is only on GM vehicles for one, second pretty sure onstar is a gps device but maybe the device that progressive is installing as a is not but who knows what it's abilities are. As cars are now equipped with the OBD2 system a lot of this data is stored in the computer.

  Most of these programs are hawking some kind of product, some blatantly so and some under the guise of news debate, where was the other side in this segment!

  
  
• [15] Protagoras from Tribeca August 07, 2008 - 01:54PM

  If "region" is definite by state this plan would penalize urban drivers compared to rural. In the city we have to do a zillion stops and starts just because of traffic lights and traffic conditions. You may have to stop and start 30 times just to go a single block or jam on the breaks because someone walks into the street from between parked cards. We do not have the option of driving long distances at steady speed, and slow steady changes of speed to not indicate a safer driving style in the city.

  The distinction they call "environment" needs to be by traffic and pedestrain density and by how traffic flow is controlled, not by state.