Auto Insurer promotes "Big Brother" Type Savings Plan

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

Purchasing car insurance is often a very expensive and frustrating experience, with the selection process primarily driven by cost.  Perhaps that is why Progressive has invigorated its promotion of its "Snapshot" auto savings plan.  The "Snapshot" plan requires you to agree to plug a device into your car, that will monitor how "safe" you drive.  It measures the miles you drive, the time of day/night you are driving and your braking patterns.  If the data obtained indicates that you are a very safe driver, then you are eligible for up to a 30% savings on you car insurance.

On its surface this may seem like an attractive way to save money and as Progressive would have you believe, to stop paying higher premiums because of all the bad drivers on the road.  But upon closer examination, many believe that this is nothing short of George Orwell's "Big Brother" from the book 1984 come to life.  In today's technological age where privacy is at a premium, having devices in our car to monitor our moves appears to be antithetical to safeguarding privacy.  What's next, installing cameras in our homes that watch for extra hazardous activities in order to save on our homeowner insurance premiums?

In addition, many opponents argue that the "Snapshot" device cannot accurately determine whether or not you are a safe driver based on the information obtained.  That a driver could potentially pass red lights and stop signs and still be deemed a safe driver by the device.  Conversely, just because someone has to make a short stop or drive in the early morning hours because they have a night job, doesn't mean that they are not a safe driver.  Opponents also question whether or not this device poses any health risks, such as those from radiation emitted from cell phones. 

Read the full details in our latest Scales of Justice blog at www.liattorney.com/scales-of-justice.html.