Personal Finance
State Farm's In-Drive Discount: What's the Catch?
By Mark Chalon Smith
Published September 27, 2011
Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/09/26/state-farms-in-drive-discount-whats-catch/#ixzz1ZD4qMFuT
State Farm is the latest insurer promising fat discounts for anyone willing to install an electronic snoop in their car.
Called In-Drive, the voluntary program is similar to Progressive's Snapshot. You stick a device in the vehicle's diagnostic port, usually under the steering wheel (most vehicles from 1996 on have this), and State Farm monitors your driving habits. Participants could qualify for discounts up to 50% on their auto insurance premiums if the data shows what good drivers they are, says Kip Diggs, spokesperson for State Farm.
So, what does In-Drive track? How far you drive and when, how fast you accelerate and turn, and how hard you brake.
Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/09/26/state-farms-in-drive-discount-whats-catch/#ixzz1ZD4yMi5K
In other words, pretty much the same criteria used by Snapshot, which Progressive says can reel in up to a 30% discount if the motorist is top-notch and doesn't drive too much or during high-accident hours (the worst, the so-called "vampire hours," are from midnight to 4 a.m.).
Missy Lundberg, a State Farm spokesperson, says that participants will immediately receive about a 10% discount on premiums for liability, medical payments, collision and comprehensive coverage. She added that up to a further 20% could be trimmed if you don't go above the national average of 12,000 miles a year.
Additional discounts would come over time, depending on how safely you drive and when you drive. Customers can track their performance, and the progress of discounts, at State Farm's website. Progressive's Snapshot users can do the same.
The OnStar connection
One of the big differences between these insurance giants' usage-based programs is that Progressive's Snapshot is just that, a temporary peek at your driving habits used as the basis to calculate your rates. After six months, you unplug the device and ship it back.
State Farm takes the game a step further by wrapping In-Drive inside OnStar, the popular onboard telematics device until now found mainly on General Motors cars. OnStar provides one-touch emergency response, roadside assistance, help locating a stolen vehicle, vehicle diagnostics alerts and maintenance reminders, and family-friendly features like mapping and speed alerts.
"This combined offering represents a first in our industry," says Mike Wey, State Farm's senior vice president. "It will provide … for a smarter vehicle and even smarter driver."
The OnStar/In-Drive combination reports data for as long as the motorist chooses to have the program on his car insurance policy, allowing State Farm a longer-term look at a driver's habits.
In-Drive is currently offered only in Illinois, but Diggs says more states will be added next year. The insurer plans to announce exactly which states in the coming months.
Despite the discount promise, the devices do come with a price tag, mostly for the OnStar service. Diggs says the package is free for the first six months after a $10 activation fee. After that, there's a $5 to $15 monthly charge, depending on the extent of the OnStar service.
If you were to buy OnStar separately, General Motors and Best Buy offer a stand-alone unit that costs $300 plus $75 for installation and $199 for an annual subscription.
Discounts versus privacy
Some wonder what State Farm and Progressive will do with the information gathered in pursuit of discounts -- and worry that privacy could be compromised if the information is passed around.
"I'd probably go for it, but I'm a very careful driver," says Jessica Ruiz, who is insured by another carrier but might give State Farm a look because of In-Drive. "I imagine I'd qualify, but it makes you feel uncomfortable that they are creating a file on you. … Doesn't everyone know too much about us already?"
Another motorist, David Sanderson, was also concerned about In-Drive's intrusiveness. But he, too, loved the possibility of a discount and the OnStar advantage. "I'm sort of feeling like giving up (on the privacy issue) because it just seems hopeless for the consumer," he says. "I've already looked into (Snapshot) and will probably look into this one (In-Drive) as well."
For privacy details, State Farm representatives point you to the company website, which says the insurer "may share policyholder information as required or permitted by law and as stated in the State Farm Privacy Policy, as amended from time to time. State Farm will not sell your information to a third party."
Marc Rotenberg, the executive director for the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), says his group hasn't investigated programs such as In-Drive or Snapshot in great detail, but red flags go up whenever information on consumers is compiled.
"We'd be concerned that (gathered information) could be shared with third parties" that could compromise the driver, Rotenberg says.
Sharon Goott Nissim, EPIC's consumer privacy counsel, was more specific, saying that the information could be used in advertising targeted at consumers or shared with the police in driving-related investigations, especially those involving accidents.
"There is the question of how this collected data is retained," she explains. "We don't know how the company is dealing with this data -- they could be turning the data into your (driving) score and then discarding the raw data as they use it to update the score.
"However, they could also be retaining the data," Goott Nissim says. "They could be disclosing the data to commercial partners, particularly locational data, which is very valuable to advertisers. Also, law enforcement may seek out data -- and insurance companies may be willing" to give it.
The original article can be found at CarInsurance.com:
State Farm's In-Drive discount: What's the catch?
Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/09/26/state-farms-in-drive-discount-whats-catch/#ixzz1ZD53ZAOL
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Trucking companies around the world are looking to boost fuel economy by improving driver behavior
Trucking companies around the world are looking to boost fuel economy by improving driver behavior, and they are using on-board technology to monitor and control what goes on behind the wheel.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2011/09/110923-fuel-economy-for-trucks/
Just over 33 years ago, 33 truckers competed for three days in a fuel economy contest dubbed the "Double Nickel Challenge." Named after radio slang for the 55 miles per hour (89 kilometer-per-hour) speed limit then in force in the United States, the goal was simple: to test the claim, common among truckers at the time, that big rigs got better mileage at higher speeds.
Long-haul truckers from all over the United States gathered in East Liberty, Ohio, to watch as drivers navigated laps around a track-first at 55 mph, and then at any speed of their choosing. With a few exceptions, they burned less fuel in the first, speed-limited, trial.
More than three decades later, the double-nickel U.S. speed limit-enacted in the wake of the 1973 Arab oil embargo-has faded into history on most highways. But so has credibility for the claim that higher truck speeds beget better fuel economy.
In fact, road-speed "governors," electronic engine controls that limit driver speed, are standard equipment on modern 18-wheelers. In Europe all trucks have their road-speed governors set by the factory to a specified value determined by law. In the United States, it's up to the vehicle owner to decide the setting, but most large fleet operators electronically limit their drivers to 60 to 63 miles an hour (97 to 101 kilometers per hour), with some flexibility to accelerate when needed. Safety is one consideration, but the other aim is to save on the cost of fuel.
(Related: "Trading Oil for Natural Gas in the Truck Lane")
Yet both the trucking industry and policy makers are convinced that more can be done to curb the growing amount of fuel that is being burned by big rigs hauling goods from one place to another. The U.S. government, in fact, this summer announced its very first fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles, seeking to require that big tractor-trailers get 20 percent better mileage by 2018. Europe also is working on a framework for limiting trucking fuel consumption and carbon emissions. And Japan, where trucks are estimated to be responsible for 25 percent of automotive greenhouse gas emissions, set standards to improve trucking fuel performance in 2006.
Changes in truck aerodynamics, reduction of mass, and improved rolling resistance all are strategies that could yield significant improvements in fuel economy, according to a U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report issued last year. But on par with all of those, the NAS put "intelligent vehicle" systems-many available today-which can reduce the fuel burned by trucks by encouraging changes in driver behavior that have long been known to save fuel.
The Fuel-Saving Power of Data
Curbing driver speed is perhaps the most widely recognized behavioral change that can save fuel, with the low 60 to 65 mph (about 100 kilometer-per hour) range the "sweet spot" for many of the 18-wheelers on today's highways, said Glen Kedzie, vice president of environmental affairs for the American Trucking Associations, a trade group headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
On average, a truck traveling at 65 mph instead of 75 mph will experience up to 27 percent improvement in fuel consumption. "As a rule of thumb, for every one mile per hour increase in speed, there is a corresponding 0.14 mpg penalty in fuel consumption," said Kedzie.
Operating at even lower speeds (around the old double-nickel limit, for example) would further reduce aerodynamic drag and decrease fuel consumption, he said, but safety risks increase if trucks travel much slower than cars. And the problem voiced by truckers during the days of the Double Nickel Challenge-that of slower speeds translating to less income-remains today.
(Related: "A Fuel That Doesn't Go to Waste")
In the United States, Australia, Canada, and European countries, for example, "hours of service" regulations force truckers to rest after a certain number of hours on the road. "Some trucks traveling at 55 may not be able to get their loads to their destinations on time," Kedzie explained.
Fortunately, the tool kit for eking out extra miles per gallon has expanded far beyond driving speed. In an era of evermore intelligent and connected vehicles, trucking technology for better fuel economy now includes wireless sensors, GPS chips, algorithms, and sophisticated real-time data analysis. "The rate of change is getting faster and faster," Kedzie said.
Fleet operators can collect highly detailed information about a given driver and vehicle, for example. "They almost have a real-time printout of a specific driver," Kedzie said. He ran off a list of data points that a growing number of U.S. fleets are monitoring: "Where they stopped, how long they rested, how often they braked and how often they hard-braked, the temperature of the engine."
It might sound like Big Brother has moved into the trucking industry. But analyzing this data and training drivers accordingly can translate to real savings. As Michael Roeth, executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, put it, "Between the worst driver and the best driver," the difference in fuel economy can be up to 25 percent.
Others cite more modest gains from technology designed to encourage more fuel-efficient driving behavior. For example, GreenRoad, based in Redwood City, California, says drivers using its real-time feedback system consistently cut fuel and maintenance costs by 10 percent. The big oil and gas company Shell* says its FuelSave Challenge Partner system for commercial trucks also can improve fuel economy by 10 percent. The Shell system collects information on 13 separate driver behaviors, such as harsh braking and excessive engine revving, and on a weekly or monthly basis, reports emissions, fuel, and efficiency data to fleet managers.
(Related: "Fuel-Saving Driving Tips")
According to Roeth, tractor-trailers in the United States currently average just 6 mpg (2.55 kilometers per liter). But some fleets can achieve up to 8.5 mpg (3.61 kilometers per liter), with the most efficient trucks reaching 10.5 mpg (4.46 kilometers per liter). "If we could bring the average up to the best real-world experience today," he said, "incredible cost would come out of freight." At current diesel fuel prices, he said, each one percent improvement in fuel economy saves about $900 per truck annually.
A Trucking Transition
The tipping point doesn't seem far off. "The truck fleet is as old as it's ever been," said Roeth. That's because, in hard economic times, fleet operators are "keeping trucks longer than they ever have." But new purchases can be postponed for only so long, and an influx of new trucks will hit U.S. highways within the next few years, according to Roeth.
It's an opportune time for the recently finalized fuel economy standards in the United States, where liquid fuel consumption by medium- and heavy-duty vehicles represents 26 percent of all transportation fuels burned. Trucking fuel consumption has increased more rapidly-in both absolute and percentage terms-than consumption by passenger vehicles.
(Related: "New Fuel Economy Labels for U.S. Vehicles")
Analysts at the firm ACT Research predict that North American production of Class 8 trucks (the heaviest trucks on the road, including big rigs) in 2012 and 2013 will be about 628,000, including an estimated 45,000 trucks to be exported to countries including Australia, South Africa, and Russia, ACT president Kenny Vieth said in an interview.
"That is nearly the total of all trucks built in the four years of 2007 through 2010. Twice as many!" Roeth wrote in an email. "It is crucial these trucks are bought with the most features for fuel economy."
It's not just a North American trend. ACT researchers are seeing "a really strong jump in the EU," Vieth said. And he added, "Demand is off the Richter scale in China," with heavy-duty truck purchases skyrocketing to more than 1.1 million in 2010, from just about 200,000 in 2001. "It's a deeply cyclical industry, either feast or famine," he said.
(Related: "Trucks Could Be Next Electric Power Frontier")
A major reason such strong growth is expected in the next couple years compared to the last few, is "the market was profoundly weak." Back in 2006, for example, North America produced more than 375,000 heavy trucks, about 40,000 more than ACT predicts for 2013.
Still, the fact is truck purchases have been down, and hundreds of thousands of new trucks will in all likelihood begin moving the world's freight within the next two years. Roeth noted that it's the fuel efficiency per ton of freight that must improve: "We like ton-miles per gallon," he explained. "Just because pickup trucks can go 20 miles per gallon (8.5 kilometers per liter), we wouldn't want 60 pickups hauling what one tractor-trailer can [haul]."
The drive to use technology for improved big rig fuel economy reflects several fundamental changes in the business of moving freight by truck, from new emission standards to rising fuel prices. At the same time, trucks are getting heavier. "But the overall weight limit hasn't changed," Roeth said. So trucks need to be able to haul more weight using smaller engines and fuel tanks.
"In 20 years, we've had five versions of pollutant emission standards," said Roeth. Scrubbing systems and other equipment required under those regulations tend to add weight. Trucking companies also want "sleepers" to provide more creature comforts in order to help retain the best drivers-not a small consideration as companies face a shortage of young drivers coming up to replace those now nearing retirement age.
"Our customers are looking for every opportunity to save fuel," said Peter Adams, program manager for Smart Transport at Shell Global. While acknowledging that Shell hopes its subscription-based FuelSave system will increase loyalty among commercial truckers, Adams explained the move to sell fuel-saving technology: "If we help our customers manage their fuel effectively, they remain profitable, in business, and keep buying fuel."
In the Netherlands, for example, the Emons Group has piloted the Shell FuelSave Partner on 17 trucks in its recycling division. The company's 450 trucks, which haul chemicals, glass, and other cargo, consume 15 million liters (nearly 4 million gallons) per year. Fuel alone accounts for about one quarter of Emons' costs. By 2012, Emons aims to slash fuel use by 20 percent. The 17 trucks using the Shell system for six months dropped fuel consumption by an average of 5.3 percent, with some individual drivers achieving 10 percent savings.
"The sky's the limit as to what information you can get out of technology," Kedzie said. It's becoming possible, for example, for a truck to be programmed to shift at just the right time for maximum fuel efficiency and minimum wear and tear. Braking can be automated, with the proper distance calculated based on road conditions, weather, and load weight. Other systems, using retinal observation, are being marketed to detect signs of driver fatigue. "Trucks are heading down the path of becoming more intelligent," he added, "which will result in the industry becoming safer, more fuel efficient, and more productive."
* This story is produced as part of National Geographic’s Great Energy Challenge initiative, sponsored by Shell. National Geographic maintains autonomy over content.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2011/09/110923-fuel-economy-for-trucks/
Just over 33 years ago, 33 truckers competed for three days in a fuel economy contest dubbed the "Double Nickel Challenge." Named after radio slang for the 55 miles per hour (89 kilometer-per-hour) speed limit then in force in the United States, the goal was simple: to test the claim, common among truckers at the time, that big rigs got better mileage at higher speeds.
Long-haul truckers from all over the United States gathered in East Liberty, Ohio, to watch as drivers navigated laps around a track-first at 55 mph, and then at any speed of their choosing. With a few exceptions, they burned less fuel in the first, speed-limited, trial.
More than three decades later, the double-nickel U.S. speed limit-enacted in the wake of the 1973 Arab oil embargo-has faded into history on most highways. But so has credibility for the claim that higher truck speeds beget better fuel economy.
In fact, road-speed "governors," electronic engine controls that limit driver speed, are standard equipment on modern 18-wheelers. In Europe all trucks have their road-speed governors set by the factory to a specified value determined by law. In the United States, it's up to the vehicle owner to decide the setting, but most large fleet operators electronically limit their drivers to 60 to 63 miles an hour (97 to 101 kilometers per hour), with some flexibility to accelerate when needed. Safety is one consideration, but the other aim is to save on the cost of fuel.
(Related: "Trading Oil for Natural Gas in the Truck Lane")
Yet both the trucking industry and policy makers are convinced that more can be done to curb the growing amount of fuel that is being burned by big rigs hauling goods from one place to another. The U.S. government, in fact, this summer announced its very first fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles, seeking to require that big tractor-trailers get 20 percent better mileage by 2018. Europe also is working on a framework for limiting trucking fuel consumption and carbon emissions. And Japan, where trucks are estimated to be responsible for 25 percent of automotive greenhouse gas emissions, set standards to improve trucking fuel performance in 2006.
Changes in truck aerodynamics, reduction of mass, and improved rolling resistance all are strategies that could yield significant improvements in fuel economy, according to a U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report issued last year. But on par with all of those, the NAS put "intelligent vehicle" systems-many available today-which can reduce the fuel burned by trucks by encouraging changes in driver behavior that have long been known to save fuel.
The Fuel-Saving Power of Data
Curbing driver speed is perhaps the most widely recognized behavioral change that can save fuel, with the low 60 to 65 mph (about 100 kilometer-per hour) range the "sweet spot" for many of the 18-wheelers on today's highways, said Glen Kedzie, vice president of environmental affairs for the American Trucking Associations, a trade group headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
On average, a truck traveling at 65 mph instead of 75 mph will experience up to 27 percent improvement in fuel consumption. "As a rule of thumb, for every one mile per hour increase in speed, there is a corresponding 0.14 mpg penalty in fuel consumption," said Kedzie.
Operating at even lower speeds (around the old double-nickel limit, for example) would further reduce aerodynamic drag and decrease fuel consumption, he said, but safety risks increase if trucks travel much slower than cars. And the problem voiced by truckers during the days of the Double Nickel Challenge-that of slower speeds translating to less income-remains today.
(Related: "A Fuel That Doesn't Go to Waste")
In the United States, Australia, Canada, and European countries, for example, "hours of service" regulations force truckers to rest after a certain number of hours on the road. "Some trucks traveling at 55 may not be able to get their loads to their destinations on time," Kedzie explained.
Fortunately, the tool kit for eking out extra miles per gallon has expanded far beyond driving speed. In an era of evermore intelligent and connected vehicles, trucking technology for better fuel economy now includes wireless sensors, GPS chips, algorithms, and sophisticated real-time data analysis. "The rate of change is getting faster and faster," Kedzie said.
Fleet operators can collect highly detailed information about a given driver and vehicle, for example. "They almost have a real-time printout of a specific driver," Kedzie said. He ran off a list of data points that a growing number of U.S. fleets are monitoring: "Where they stopped, how long they rested, how often they braked and how often they hard-braked, the temperature of the engine."
It might sound like Big Brother has moved into the trucking industry. But analyzing this data and training drivers accordingly can translate to real savings. As Michael Roeth, executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, put it, "Between the worst driver and the best driver," the difference in fuel economy can be up to 25 percent.
Others cite more modest gains from technology designed to encourage more fuel-efficient driving behavior. For example, GreenRoad, based in Redwood City, California, says drivers using its real-time feedback system consistently cut fuel and maintenance costs by 10 percent. The big oil and gas company Shell* says its FuelSave Challenge Partner system for commercial trucks also can improve fuel economy by 10 percent. The Shell system collects information on 13 separate driver behaviors, such as harsh braking and excessive engine revving, and on a weekly or monthly basis, reports emissions, fuel, and efficiency data to fleet managers.
(Related: "Fuel-Saving Driving Tips")
According to Roeth, tractor-trailers in the United States currently average just 6 mpg (2.55 kilometers per liter). But some fleets can achieve up to 8.5 mpg (3.61 kilometers per liter), with the most efficient trucks reaching 10.5 mpg (4.46 kilometers per liter). "If we could bring the average up to the best real-world experience today," he said, "incredible cost would come out of freight." At current diesel fuel prices, he said, each one percent improvement in fuel economy saves about $900 per truck annually.
A Trucking Transition
The tipping point doesn't seem far off. "The truck fleet is as old as it's ever been," said Roeth. That's because, in hard economic times, fleet operators are "keeping trucks longer than they ever have." But new purchases can be postponed for only so long, and an influx of new trucks will hit U.S. highways within the next few years, according to Roeth.
It's an opportune time for the recently finalized fuel economy standards in the United States, where liquid fuel consumption by medium- and heavy-duty vehicles represents 26 percent of all transportation fuels burned. Trucking fuel consumption has increased more rapidly-in both absolute and percentage terms-than consumption by passenger vehicles.
(Related: "New Fuel Economy Labels for U.S. Vehicles")
Analysts at the firm ACT Research predict that North American production of Class 8 trucks (the heaviest trucks on the road, including big rigs) in 2012 and 2013 will be about 628,000, including an estimated 45,000 trucks to be exported to countries including Australia, South Africa, and Russia, ACT president Kenny Vieth said in an interview.
"That is nearly the total of all trucks built in the four years of 2007 through 2010. Twice as many!" Roeth wrote in an email. "It is crucial these trucks are bought with the most features for fuel economy."
It's not just a North American trend. ACT researchers are seeing "a really strong jump in the EU," Vieth said. And he added, "Demand is off the Richter scale in China," with heavy-duty truck purchases skyrocketing to more than 1.1 million in 2010, from just about 200,000 in 2001. "It's a deeply cyclical industry, either feast or famine," he said.
(Related: "Trucks Could Be Next Electric Power Frontier")
A major reason such strong growth is expected in the next couple years compared to the last few, is "the market was profoundly weak." Back in 2006, for example, North America produced more than 375,000 heavy trucks, about 40,000 more than ACT predicts for 2013.
Still, the fact is truck purchases have been down, and hundreds of thousands of new trucks will in all likelihood begin moving the world's freight within the next two years. Roeth noted that it's the fuel efficiency per ton of freight that must improve: "We like ton-miles per gallon," he explained. "Just because pickup trucks can go 20 miles per gallon (8.5 kilometers per liter), we wouldn't want 60 pickups hauling what one tractor-trailer can [haul]."
The drive to use technology for improved big rig fuel economy reflects several fundamental changes in the business of moving freight by truck, from new emission standards to rising fuel prices. At the same time, trucks are getting heavier. "But the overall weight limit hasn't changed," Roeth said. So trucks need to be able to haul more weight using smaller engines and fuel tanks.
"In 20 years, we've had five versions of pollutant emission standards," said Roeth. Scrubbing systems and other equipment required under those regulations tend to add weight. Trucking companies also want "sleepers" to provide more creature comforts in order to help retain the best drivers-not a small consideration as companies face a shortage of young drivers coming up to replace those now nearing retirement age.
"Our customers are looking for every opportunity to save fuel," said Peter Adams, program manager for Smart Transport at Shell Global. While acknowledging that Shell hopes its subscription-based FuelSave system will increase loyalty among commercial truckers, Adams explained the move to sell fuel-saving technology: "If we help our customers manage their fuel effectively, they remain profitable, in business, and keep buying fuel."
In the Netherlands, for example, the Emons Group has piloted the Shell FuelSave Partner on 17 trucks in its recycling division. The company's 450 trucks, which haul chemicals, glass, and other cargo, consume 15 million liters (nearly 4 million gallons) per year. Fuel alone accounts for about one quarter of Emons' costs. By 2012, Emons aims to slash fuel use by 20 percent. The 17 trucks using the Shell system for six months dropped fuel consumption by an average of 5.3 percent, with some individual drivers achieving 10 percent savings.
"The sky's the limit as to what information you can get out of technology," Kedzie said. It's becoming possible, for example, for a truck to be programmed to shift at just the right time for maximum fuel efficiency and minimum wear and tear. Braking can be automated, with the proper distance calculated based on road conditions, weather, and load weight. Other systems, using retinal observation, are being marketed to detect signs of driver fatigue. "Trucks are heading down the path of becoming more intelligent," he added, "which will result in the industry becoming safer, more fuel efficient, and more productive."
* This story is produced as part of National Geographic’s Great Energy Challenge initiative, sponsored by Shell. National Geographic maintains autonomy over content.
OnStar Reverses Course on Driver-Data Policy After Schumer Raises Privacy Concerns
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9220337/OnStar_reverses_course_on_controversial_GPS_tracking_plans?taxonomyId=17
USA Steered toward safety - Great PROMO idea
http://www.nwherald.com/2011/09/14/steered-toward-safety/a1t9twk/
During Jacobs High School’s homecoming festivities this month, students arrived early in the morning to place crosses, candles and flowers at a damaged car.
The makeshift memorial was placed on one of the school’s parking lots by the Jacobs Safety Initiative to remind students to be careful during homecoming week, traditionally a fun time to invoke student spirit, culminating with a dance.
During Jacobs High School’s homecoming festivities this month, students arrived early in the morning to place crosses, candles and flowers at a damaged car.
The makeshift memorial was placed on one of the school’s parking lots by the Jacobs Safety Initiative to remind students to be careful during homecoming week, traditionally a fun time to invoke student spirit, culminating with a dance.
USA OnStar in Hot Water Over Continuous Connection
http://www.insurancetech.com/blogs/231602153
OnStar in Hot Water Over Continuous Connection
Politicians are calling for an investigation of the GM program after it announced that simply cancelling a subscription does not fully sever the link between company and customer. That's not what companies exploring usage-based insurance want to see.
OnStar in Hot Water Over Continuous Connection
Politicians are calling for an investigation of the GM program after it announced that simply cancelling a subscription does not fully sever the link between company and customer. That's not what companies exploring usage-based insurance want to see.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
ACT Point-to-Point passed to boost road safety
http://www.projectlink.com.au/IndustryNews/point-to-point-passed-to-boost-road-safety.html
ACT Government
September 26,2011 - The ACT's first point-to-point cameras have been given the green light after legislation for the operation was passed in the Legislative Assembly tonight, announced the Attorney General, Simon Corbell.
The ACT's first point-to-point cameras have been given the green light after legislation for the operation was passed in the Legislative Assembly tonight, announced the Attorney General, Simon Corbell.
"The introduction of point-to-point cameras implements a recommendation of the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020, and will complement existing approaches to speed limit enforcement in the ACT," Mr Corbell said.
"Speeding in the ACT is still a serious problem with 1,826 traffic infringements and cautions issued in June and July, with a large number of these infringements ‘high speed' traffic offences."
Twenty-six people were caught driving at very high-speeds with the highest recorded speed of 171km/h in an 80km/h zone committed by a 28-year-old male.
Mr Corbell said experience from other jurisdictions confirmed point-to-point systems were effective at reducing speeds and serious or fatal crashes where they were installed.
The first point to point system is being built on Hindmarsh Drive and is expected to become operational later this year. A second system is expected to be commissioned in 2012.
The system uses cameras equipped with with Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, and scans photographs to identify vehicle numberplates. The system takes time-stamped photographs of vehicles as they pass two places (detection points) set at a known distance apart. If the average speed exceeds the average speed limit between those points, an infringement notice for a speeding offence may be issued.
ANPR technology is already used in the ACT, as part of ACT Policing's RAPID (Recognition and Analysis of Plates IDentified) system to detect offences involving unregistered or uninsured vehicles and unlicensed drivers.
"The system photographs only the back of vehicles and the images do not identify drivers or riders," Mr Corbell said.
"There are strong safeguards to protect personal information, and the legislation explicitly restricts access to and use of these images. Images that do not show offences will be destroyed after 14 days. Contrary to speculation in the media, these speed cameras will not be used to spy on the ACT community or to track the movements of individuals around the ACT.
ACT Government
September 26,2011 - The ACT's first point-to-point cameras have been given the green light after legislation for the operation was passed in the Legislative Assembly tonight, announced the Attorney General, Simon Corbell.
The ACT's first point-to-point cameras have been given the green light after legislation for the operation was passed in the Legislative Assembly tonight, announced the Attorney General, Simon Corbell.
"The introduction of point-to-point cameras implements a recommendation of the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020, and will complement existing approaches to speed limit enforcement in the ACT," Mr Corbell said.
"Speeding in the ACT is still a serious problem with 1,826 traffic infringements and cautions issued in June and July, with a large number of these infringements ‘high speed' traffic offences."
Twenty-six people were caught driving at very high-speeds with the highest recorded speed of 171km/h in an 80km/h zone committed by a 28-year-old male.
Mr Corbell said experience from other jurisdictions confirmed point-to-point systems were effective at reducing speeds and serious or fatal crashes where they were installed.
The first point to point system is being built on Hindmarsh Drive and is expected to become operational later this year. A second system is expected to be commissioned in 2012.
The system uses cameras equipped with with Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, and scans photographs to identify vehicle numberplates. The system takes time-stamped photographs of vehicles as they pass two places (detection points) set at a known distance apart. If the average speed exceeds the average speed limit between those points, an infringement notice for a speeding offence may be issued.
ANPR technology is already used in the ACT, as part of ACT Policing's RAPID (Recognition and Analysis of Plates IDentified) system to detect offences involving unregistered or uninsured vehicles and unlicensed drivers.
"The system photographs only the back of vehicles and the images do not identify drivers or riders," Mr Corbell said.
"There are strong safeguards to protect personal information, and the legislation explicitly restricts access to and use of these images. Images that do not show offences will be destroyed after 14 days. Contrary to speculation in the media, these speed cameras will not be used to spy on the ACT community or to track the movements of individuals around the ACT.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Telematics-based system rewards good teen drivers with savings on insurance
http://www.gizmag.com/insurethebox-telemetrics-teen-drivers/19891/
Telematics-based system rewards good teen drivers with savings on insurance
By Ben Coxworth
It's no secret that teen drivers have to pay higher automobile insurance rates than most people - after all, they're less experienced, and some of them can be pretty reckless. If you're a good teen driver or one that doesn't drive much, however, it might seem rather unfair that you have to pay rates that are based on the worst driving habits of your peers. Well, Gibraltar-based insurethebox has what it claims is a better alternative - teens' cars are fitted with a telematics box that records the way and amount that they drive, and they end up paying less for their insurance if they drive well.
Because teens may not drive as much as most adults, the insurance is purchased in packages of miles. Each annual policy comes with a base 6,000 miles (9,656 km), to which separately-purchased top-up bundles can be added as needed.
The Clear Box, as it's called, is about the size of a smartphone, and incorporates features such as GPS, logging units, an accelerometer and antennas, all of which are managed by a microprocessor. It is installed behind the dashboard, and records data such as distance traveled, number of trips made, speeds maintained on different types of roads, smoothness of driving, and time of day that trips are made. This information is regularly sent via satellite to a remote server, where it is uploaded onto each user's web portal. There, clients can see for themselves how their profile is progressing.
While poor drivers aren't penalized per se, good drivers receive bonus miles, which can be rolled over to their next year if not used right away. Shopping at participating UK retailers will also earn clients reward miles, that will be credited to their policy.
In the event of an accident, the Clear Box will act more like a black box, recording the time and location of the event, the force of impact, the direction of travel, and the speed of the vehicle prior to and after the incident. Not only will this information have an affect on the user's profile, but it could also be useful in court, or if the driver needs assistance at the time of the accident. The box can also be used to track the car if it's stolen.
Prices of policies are based on factors such as age and location. Quotes can be obtained via the insurethebox website.
While it doesn't include an insurance policy, the tiwi is similar to the Clear Box, in that it monitors young drivers and provides them with an online progress report on their skill behind the wheel.
Telematics-based system rewards good teen drivers with savings on insurance
By Ben Coxworth
It's no secret that teen drivers have to pay higher automobile insurance rates than most people - after all, they're less experienced, and some of them can be pretty reckless. If you're a good teen driver or one that doesn't drive much, however, it might seem rather unfair that you have to pay rates that are based on the worst driving habits of your peers. Well, Gibraltar-based insurethebox has what it claims is a better alternative - teens' cars are fitted with a telematics box that records the way and amount that they drive, and they end up paying less for their insurance if they drive well.
Because teens may not drive as much as most adults, the insurance is purchased in packages of miles. Each annual policy comes with a base 6,000 miles (9,656 km), to which separately-purchased top-up bundles can be added as needed.
The Clear Box, as it's called, is about the size of a smartphone, and incorporates features such as GPS, logging units, an accelerometer and antennas, all of which are managed by a microprocessor. It is installed behind the dashboard, and records data such as distance traveled, number of trips made, speeds maintained on different types of roads, smoothness of driving, and time of day that trips are made. This information is regularly sent via satellite to a remote server, where it is uploaded onto each user's web portal. There, clients can see for themselves how their profile is progressing.
While poor drivers aren't penalized per se, good drivers receive bonus miles, which can be rolled over to their next year if not used right away. Shopping at participating UK retailers will also earn clients reward miles, that will be credited to their policy.
In the event of an accident, the Clear Box will act more like a black box, recording the time and location of the event, the force of impact, the direction of travel, and the speed of the vehicle prior to and after the incident. Not only will this information have an affect on the user's profile, but it could also be useful in court, or if the driver needs assistance at the time of the accident. The box can also be used to track the car if it's stolen.
Prices of policies are based on factors such as age and location. Quotes can be obtained via the insurethebox website.
While it doesn't include an insurance policy, the tiwi is similar to the Clear Box, in that it monitors young drivers and provides them with an online progress report on their skill behind the wheel.
USA Just Saved Another 30% Using Progressive Snapshot
Just Saved Another 30% Using Progressive Snapshot
by MICHAEL
in INSURANCE
http://www.doughroller.net/insurance/progressive-snapshot-savings/
0
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Living in Miami as a single guy with a terrible credit score, my auto insurance bill was out of control. I’m pretty sure had I decided to pick up comprehensive and collision insurance, I would have been paying more than most families pay on their mortgage. Geico was just not cutting it and two years ago, a move was made to Progressive.
Initially, I only saved a few dollars but it was enough where some much needed money was freed up for life’s necessities. Progressive routinely changed my rate every six months, sometimes in my favor, sometimes in their favor but my rate for only liability insurance consistently hovered around the $110 a month mark. And for a guy who rarely uses his car to do anything, I thought I was getting screwed. Not necessarily by Progressive as they were the cheapest carrier I could find, just screwed in general.
As luck would have it however, Progressive decided to launch something called “Snapshot” which tracks the performance of your automobile and can provide you a discount for good driving habits. Having nothing to lose, I signed up immediately and installed the device in my Mustang. 30 days after using the device, Progress knocked my auto insurance down by $28 a month, making me an extremely happy customer. Spending 10 minutes to save more than $300 annually was awesome, but today, Progressive is officially my favorite company of all time.
My new policy is slated to begin on the 15th of October and I was mailed my new insurance documents yesterday. With those documents came a letter informing me that my policy received yet another discount for good driving. This time, Progressive took another $30 off my bill, bringing the total cost of my monthly auto insurance to just $52! Taking into account the initial $28 per month discount I received earlier in the quarter, I’ve saved $58 (or 52%) on my car insurance by using the Snapshot device. That’s an annual savings of more than $700.
Also included in the mail was a return box which I will need to use in order to send the Snapshot device back to Progressive. I have 30 days to send it back and the postage is already paid for by Progressive. Now that they are asking for the device back, the discount I have received is final so I can expect this amount to remain consistent so long as I am a Progressive customer who needs to insure his Mustang.
It’s refreshing to see a company live up to their word every once in a while and Progressive far exceeded my expectations. They’ve done a bang-up job in making sure I’m a long term customer and when the time comes where I need home owners insurance, you bet your sweet boopy I’ll be using them too. I urge anyone reading this post to consider giving Progressive and they’re Snapshot device a try. So long as you’re a good driver who doesn’t brake hard all that often, I know you’ll also receive an amazing discount.
by MICHAEL
in INSURANCE
http://www.doughroller.net/insurance/progressive-snapshot-savings/
0
EmailShare
Living in Miami as a single guy with a terrible credit score, my auto insurance bill was out of control. I’m pretty sure had I decided to pick up comprehensive and collision insurance, I would have been paying more than most families pay on their mortgage. Geico was just not cutting it and two years ago, a move was made to Progressive.
Initially, I only saved a few dollars but it was enough where some much needed money was freed up for life’s necessities. Progressive routinely changed my rate every six months, sometimes in my favor, sometimes in their favor but my rate for only liability insurance consistently hovered around the $110 a month mark. And for a guy who rarely uses his car to do anything, I thought I was getting screwed. Not necessarily by Progressive as they were the cheapest carrier I could find, just screwed in general.
As luck would have it however, Progressive decided to launch something called “Snapshot” which tracks the performance of your automobile and can provide you a discount for good driving habits. Having nothing to lose, I signed up immediately and installed the device in my Mustang. 30 days after using the device, Progress knocked my auto insurance down by $28 a month, making me an extremely happy customer. Spending 10 minutes to save more than $300 annually was awesome, but today, Progressive is officially my favorite company of all time.
My new policy is slated to begin on the 15th of October and I was mailed my new insurance documents yesterday. With those documents came a letter informing me that my policy received yet another discount for good driving. This time, Progressive took another $30 off my bill, bringing the total cost of my monthly auto insurance to just $52! Taking into account the initial $28 per month discount I received earlier in the quarter, I’ve saved $58 (or 52%) on my car insurance by using the Snapshot device. That’s an annual savings of more than $700.
Also included in the mail was a return box which I will need to use in order to send the Snapshot device back to Progressive. I have 30 days to send it back and the postage is already paid for by Progressive. Now that they are asking for the device back, the discount I have received is final so I can expect this amount to remain consistent so long as I am a Progressive customer who needs to insure his Mustang.
It’s refreshing to see a company live up to their word every once in a while and Progressive far exceeded my expectations. They’ve done a bang-up job in making sure I’m a long term customer and when the time comes where I need home owners insurance, you bet your sweet boopy I’ll be using them too. I urge anyone reading this post to consider giving Progressive and they’re Snapshot device a try. So long as you’re a good driver who doesn’t brake hard all that often, I know you’ll also receive an amazing discount.
Safe drivers could earn substantial discounts, but is the loss of privacy worth it
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/ct-biz-0918-insurance-20110916,0,4018411.story
By Ameet Sachdev, Tribune reporter
9:52 p.m. CDT, September 16, 2011
Your car knows everything
Insurance companies want to install electronic tracking devices in your car to monitor your driving. Safe drivers could earn substantial discounts, but is the loss of privacy worth it
A few months ago, Saman Jayasekara was shopping online for cheaper car insurance when he came across a new product from Progressive Corp. that offered him the chance to save as much as 30 percent.
But there was a catch. He would have to install a device in his Hyundai Sonata that would monitor his driving habits, such as when he drove, miles driven and number of sudden stops. Progressive would analyze the data to determine whether he deserved a discount.
Jayasekara, a software programmer in New Jersey, enrolled, and after a month he received a 23 percent discount, which could save him hundreds of dollars a year.
"Everybody is scared of being monitored," Jayasekara said. "But I'm happy with my discount."
Progressive was one of the first insurers to venture into what people in the industry call "usage-based" or "pay-as-you-drive" insurance. Now, State Farm has begun offering an in-car monitoring system in Illinois, eight months after Allstate Corp. launched a program in the state. Evaluating actual driving data is considered a more precise way to gauge risk compared with traditional pricing methods that factored in, for example, age, gender and marital status.
More accurate pricing has benefits for consumers and the insurance industry.
Proponents say usage-based insurance creates a fairer insurance system because generally safer drivers and people who drive less have subsidized the costs for those who drive more or more recklessly. Progressive, widely considered the leader in usage-based insurance, said the average savings for drivers who have earned a discount is 10 to 15 percent. Not every motorist who elects to be monitored receives a discount, and rates will not go up based on performance, insurers say.
Insurers also predict that in-car monitoring will encourage safer driving or, at a minimum, reduced driving, which could lead to fewer crashes and insurance claims. That has transportation officials and regulators excited by the potential social benefits of usage-based insurance, such as reduced congestion and pollution emissions.
"As a matter of public policy, pay-as-you-drive programs make a lot of sense," said Adam Cole, general counsel of the California Department of Insurance. "We want to create an incentive for insurance companies and consumers to participate in these programs."
But there are trade-offs. Although the programs are voluntary, consumer and privacy advocates are concerned that insurance companies are becoming "big brother." State Farm is stretching privacy boundaries further by including GPS in its recording device to track a vehicle's location. The company said it is not using location data to calculate premiums but to offer roadside assistance and other services.
Usage-based insurance also affects the basic financial model of insurance, that for every discount there is a corresponding surcharge, because insurers have to collect enough in premiums to cover their potential exposure. If safe drivers start paying less, will high-risk drivers have to pay more?
"It's clearly an outcome that could possible occur, but we're not ready to make that determination yet," said Daniel Kraft, Allstate's director of new product and service development.
The uncertainty plus the privacy concerns make some question whether usage-based insurance will become a mainstream success. Even some insurance companies say the product is not for everyone.
"We knew right out of the box that some consumers would not want it because they don't want a box in their car gathering details on how they drive," Kraft said.
Kraft described the target customer for its Drive Wise program, which can provide savings of up to 30 percent, as someone who lives in an urban area, takes public transportation to work and drives a few thousand miles a year.
That would probably rule out a motorist with a safe driving record who commutes to downtown from Naperville every day, because of the number of miles driven every year, Kraft said.
"I think what we want to do is make sure people enrolling can really benefit from the program," Kraft said.
In a sign of how small the market for usage-based insurance could be, Allstate told the Illinois Department of Insurance in a regulatory filing in December that it expected only 6 percent of its customers in the state would enroll in the program.
Kraft declined to say how many Illinois motorists have enrolled in Drive Wise, except to say that Allstate is pleased with the response. Based on premiums written in 2010, Northbrook-based Allstate had about 9 percent of the Illinois passenger car insurance market, or about 761,000 vehicles, according to the company and the Insurance Department.
By Ameet Sachdev, Tribune reporter
9:52 p.m. CDT, September 16, 2011
Your car knows everything
Insurance companies want to install electronic tracking devices in your car to monitor your driving. Safe drivers could earn substantial discounts, but is the loss of privacy worth it
A few months ago, Saman Jayasekara was shopping online for cheaper car insurance when he came across a new product from Progressive Corp. that offered him the chance to save as much as 30 percent.
But there was a catch. He would have to install a device in his Hyundai Sonata that would monitor his driving habits, such as when he drove, miles driven and number of sudden stops. Progressive would analyze the data to determine whether he deserved a discount.
Jayasekara, a software programmer in New Jersey, enrolled, and after a month he received a 23 percent discount, which could save him hundreds of dollars a year.
"Everybody is scared of being monitored," Jayasekara said. "But I'm happy with my discount."
Progressive was one of the first insurers to venture into what people in the industry call "usage-based" or "pay-as-you-drive" insurance. Now, State Farm has begun offering an in-car monitoring system in Illinois, eight months after Allstate Corp. launched a program in the state. Evaluating actual driving data is considered a more precise way to gauge risk compared with traditional pricing methods that factored in, for example, age, gender and marital status.
More accurate pricing has benefits for consumers and the insurance industry.
Proponents say usage-based insurance creates a fairer insurance system because generally safer drivers and people who drive less have subsidized the costs for those who drive more or more recklessly. Progressive, widely considered the leader in usage-based insurance, said the average savings for drivers who have earned a discount is 10 to 15 percent. Not every motorist who elects to be monitored receives a discount, and rates will not go up based on performance, insurers say.
Insurers also predict that in-car monitoring will encourage safer driving or, at a minimum, reduced driving, which could lead to fewer crashes and insurance claims. That has transportation officials and regulators excited by the potential social benefits of usage-based insurance, such as reduced congestion and pollution emissions.
"As a matter of public policy, pay-as-you-drive programs make a lot of sense," said Adam Cole, general counsel of the California Department of Insurance. "We want to create an incentive for insurance companies and consumers to participate in these programs."
But there are trade-offs. Although the programs are voluntary, consumer and privacy advocates are concerned that insurance companies are becoming "big brother." State Farm is stretching privacy boundaries further by including GPS in its recording device to track a vehicle's location. The company said it is not using location data to calculate premiums but to offer roadside assistance and other services.
Usage-based insurance also affects the basic financial model of insurance, that for every discount there is a corresponding surcharge, because insurers have to collect enough in premiums to cover their potential exposure. If safe drivers start paying less, will high-risk drivers have to pay more?
"It's clearly an outcome that could possible occur, but we're not ready to make that determination yet," said Daniel Kraft, Allstate's director of new product and service development.
The uncertainty plus the privacy concerns make some question whether usage-based insurance will become a mainstream success. Even some insurance companies say the product is not for everyone.
"We knew right out of the box that some consumers would not want it because they don't want a box in their car gathering details on how they drive," Kraft said.
Kraft described the target customer for its Drive Wise program, which can provide savings of up to 30 percent, as someone who lives in an urban area, takes public transportation to work and drives a few thousand miles a year.
That would probably rule out a motorist with a safe driving record who commutes to downtown from Naperville every day, because of the number of miles driven every year, Kraft said.
"I think what we want to do is make sure people enrolling can really benefit from the program," Kraft said.
In a sign of how small the market for usage-based insurance could be, Allstate told the Illinois Department of Insurance in a regulatory filing in December that it expected only 6 percent of its customers in the state would enroll in the program.
Kraft declined to say how many Illinois motorists have enrolled in Drive Wise, except to say that Allstate is pleased with the response. Based on premiums written in 2010, Northbrook-based Allstate had about 9 percent of the Illinois passenger car insurance market, or about 761,000 vehicles, according to the company and the Insurance Department.
Telematics Update's Report- 'The Future for Insurance Telematics: Smart Vehicle Technology'
Telematics Update's Report- 'The Future for Insurance Telematics: Smart Vehicle Technology'
On 8th-9th September the industry’s thought leaders; including PwC, Allstate Insurance Company, Numerex and Octo Telematics, gathered at Telematics Update's Insurance Telematics USA 2011, focused Conference & Expo, Chicago, USA.
Email PDF Print
London, United Kingdom (PRWEB) September
The conference marked a progressively more lucrative insurance telematics market for automakers, insurers and suppliers.
Oren Steinberg, VP of Business Development at Sensomatix notes the distinct change in the Industry. “Technology is evolving a new generation of insurance products that make economic sense. Viable business models will emerge based on these new capabilities.”
David MacNamara, ex multi-media and infotainment manager at Ford, exemplifies how the Industry is changing. “We can expect the insurers and Vehicle OEMs to cooperate to bring UBI to about 30-50% of all vehicles between 2015 and 2020.”
There is a huge demand for business intelligence on the strategies of car manufacturers and insurance companies from those who wish to capitalise on the new opportunities presented by concepts such as UBI.
Telematics Update’s new report titled Smart Vehicle Technology: The Future for Insurance Telematics covers the challenges facing the insurance telematics industry with graphs, statistics and extensive analysis.
The comprehensive report offers case studies from key insurance telematics pilots and programs including General Motors, OnStar 77 and Hyundai facilitating the development of winning insurance telematics business models.
Telematics based usage-based insurance [UBI] strategies from major insurers apprise the evolving market. The complex legislative landscape has been scrutinised to combat security issues and customer acceptance all of which can unlock mass market penetration for tier1 and 2 companies.
For more information visit http://www.telematicsupdate.com/insurance-report/index.shtml , contact charlotte wright on +4402073757517/ 1 8008143459 ext. 7517 or email cwright(at)telematicsupdate(dot)com.
Telematics Update is the reference point for automotive telematics, mobile and web industries and a cornerstone for communications within the industry. We aim to provide industry focused news, events, reports, updates and information. Telematics Update aims to be the hub of the automotive, mobile & web community enabling dialogue throughout the industry and driving telematics forward.
###
On 8th-9th September the industry’s thought leaders; including PwC, Allstate Insurance Company, Numerex and Octo Telematics, gathered at Telematics Update's Insurance Telematics USA 2011, focused Conference & Expo, Chicago, USA.
Email PDF Print
London, United Kingdom (PRWEB) September
The conference marked a progressively more lucrative insurance telematics market for automakers, insurers and suppliers.
Oren Steinberg, VP of Business Development at Sensomatix notes the distinct change in the Industry. “Technology is evolving a new generation of insurance products that make economic sense. Viable business models will emerge based on these new capabilities.”
David MacNamara, ex multi-media and infotainment manager at Ford, exemplifies how the Industry is changing. “We can expect the insurers and Vehicle OEMs to cooperate to bring UBI to about 30-50% of all vehicles between 2015 and 2020.”
There is a huge demand for business intelligence on the strategies of car manufacturers and insurance companies from those who wish to capitalise on the new opportunities presented by concepts such as UBI.
Telematics Update’s new report titled Smart Vehicle Technology: The Future for Insurance Telematics covers the challenges facing the insurance telematics industry with graphs, statistics and extensive analysis.
The comprehensive report offers case studies from key insurance telematics pilots and programs including General Motors, OnStar 77 and Hyundai facilitating the development of winning insurance telematics business models.
Telematics based usage-based insurance [UBI] strategies from major insurers apprise the evolving market. The complex legislative landscape has been scrutinised to combat security issues and customer acceptance all of which can unlock mass market penetration for tier1 and 2 companies.
For more information visit http://www.telematicsupdate.com/insurance-report/index.shtml , contact charlotte wright on +4402073757517/ 1 8008143459 ext. 7517 or email cwright(at)telematicsupdate(dot)com.
Telematics Update is the reference point for automotive telematics, mobile and web industries and a cornerstone for communications within the industry. We aim to provide industry focused news, events, reports, updates and information. Telematics Update aims to be the hub of the automotive, mobile & web community enabling dialogue throughout the industry and driving telematics forward.
###
TAS BOOST FOR ROAD SAFETY FUNDING
http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=33212
BOOST FOR ROAD SAFETY FUNDING
The Tasmanian Government is boosting its investment in road safety, using the highly-successful Road Safety Levy.
The Minister for Infrastructure, David O’Byrne, said the Government will raise and spend an extra $2.6-million a year through the levy, to help keep Tasmanians safer on the roads.
“Every tragic accident on our roads is one too many,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“While the number of deaths and serious injuries on Tasmanian roads are trending downwards, there’s still plenty of work to do.
“Tasmanian drivers can be assured that every cent we raise from the Road Safety Levy goes towards strong and proven initiatives to keep them and their loved ones safer,” he said.
After running successfully for almost four years, the Road Safety Levy is being extended by five years, to 30 November 2017.
From November 1st 2011, the levy amount will rise from $20 per vehicle ($12 concession), to $25 per vehicle ($15 concession) - raising an extra $2.6 million each year.
The levy currently raises about $9.5-million each year, and can only be used for road safety purposes.
All projects are evidence-based, to help prevent as many deaths and serious injuries as possible.
Crashes involving a deaths or serious injury have reduced by almost 33 per cent in five years – with initiatives funded by the levy making a significant contribution.
“This improvement is the best evidence that our approach to protecting Tasmanian road users is the right one,” Mr O’Byrne said.
Initiatives funded by the Road Safety Levy so far include:
Dollar-for-dollar funding for Councils to conduct traffic calming treatments in shared urban spaces;
Rolling-out electronic speed-limit signs at schools;
Reform of the novice driver licensing system;
Trialling of innovative technologies; and
Installing flexible safety barrier on Tasmania’s major highways and arterial roads.
Under the second action plan, further initiatives to be funded include:
Implementing targeted infrastructure projects to address run-off-road and head-on crashes (which account for 39% of crash types);
Investigating further changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing System;
Point-to-point speed enforcement;
Introducing alcohol interlocks; and
Safer travel speeds.
BOOST FOR ROAD SAFETY FUNDING
The Tasmanian Government is boosting its investment in road safety, using the highly-successful Road Safety Levy.
The Minister for Infrastructure, David O’Byrne, said the Government will raise and spend an extra $2.6-million a year through the levy, to help keep Tasmanians safer on the roads.
“Every tragic accident on our roads is one too many,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“While the number of deaths and serious injuries on Tasmanian roads are trending downwards, there’s still plenty of work to do.
“Tasmanian drivers can be assured that every cent we raise from the Road Safety Levy goes towards strong and proven initiatives to keep them and their loved ones safer,” he said.
After running successfully for almost four years, the Road Safety Levy is being extended by five years, to 30 November 2017.
From November 1st 2011, the levy amount will rise from $20 per vehicle ($12 concession), to $25 per vehicle ($15 concession) - raising an extra $2.6 million each year.
The levy currently raises about $9.5-million each year, and can only be used for road safety purposes.
All projects are evidence-based, to help prevent as many deaths and serious injuries as possible.
Crashes involving a deaths or serious injury have reduced by almost 33 per cent in five years – with initiatives funded by the levy making a significant contribution.
“This improvement is the best evidence that our approach to protecting Tasmanian road users is the right one,” Mr O’Byrne said.
Initiatives funded by the Road Safety Levy so far include:
Dollar-for-dollar funding for Councils to conduct traffic calming treatments in shared urban spaces;
Rolling-out electronic speed-limit signs at schools;
Reform of the novice driver licensing system;
Trialling of innovative technologies; and
Installing flexible safety barrier on Tasmania’s major highways and arterial roads.
Under the second action plan, further initiatives to be funded include:
Implementing targeted infrastructure projects to address run-off-road and head-on crashes (which account for 39% of crash types);
Investigating further changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing System;
Point-to-point speed enforcement;
Introducing alcohol interlocks; and
Safer travel speeds.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Insurance system 'fails NSW road victims', bar association claims Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/insurance-system-fails-nsw-road-vic
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/insurance-system-fails-nsw-road-victims-bar-association-claims/story-e6frfku0-1226141039261
MOTOR accident victims in NSW should be better compensated from the vast profits reaped on compulsory insurance for drivers, the state's bar association says.
The NSW Bar Association is calling for an independent inquiry into how the state's personal injury laws and compulsory third-party insurance system work for people injured on the road.
While insurance companies make huge profits under the current green slip scheme, 90 per cent of victims are left uncompensated, association president Bernard Coles QC says.
"Some of those excess profits should be diverted to accident victims to properly compensate them for their injuries without the need for any increase in green slip prices," he said in a statement today.
"These profits in these circumstances are unjustifiable in a compulsory, public system."
Mr Coles said changes made by the previous government to personal injury laws resulted in thousands of people being denied proper compensation for their injuries.
"The current patchwork of schemes fails injured people in this state, and an urgent inquiry into personal injury laws is required to restore much-needed balance to the system," Mr Coles said.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/insurance-system-fails-nsw-road-victims-bar-association-claims/story-e6frfku0-1226141039261#ixzz1YRAERcFx
MOTOR accident victims in NSW should be better compensated from the vast profits reaped on compulsory insurance for drivers, the state's bar association says.
The NSW Bar Association is calling for an independent inquiry into how the state's personal injury laws and compulsory third-party insurance system work for people injured on the road.
While insurance companies make huge profits under the current green slip scheme, 90 per cent of victims are left uncompensated, association president Bernard Coles QC says.
"Some of those excess profits should be diverted to accident victims to properly compensate them for their injuries without the need for any increase in green slip prices," he said in a statement today.
"These profits in these circumstances are unjustifiable in a compulsory, public system."
Mr Coles said changes made by the previous government to personal injury laws resulted in thousands of people being denied proper compensation for their injuries.
"The current patchwork of schemes fails injured people in this state, and an urgent inquiry into personal injury laws is required to restore much-needed balance to the system," Mr Coles said.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/insurance-system-fails-nsw-road-victims-bar-association-claims/story-e6frfku0-1226141039261#ixzz1YRAERcFx
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
UK The little black box that could help fight soaring car insurance costs
http://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/the-little-black-box-that-could-help-fight-soaring-car-insurance-costs-2352156.html
The little black box that could help fight soaring car insurance costs
Insurers are turning to telematics to reduce premiums and encourage people to drive more safely. Matthew Wall explains.
As the OFT announced on Thursday an investigation into soaring car insurance premiums - 30 per cent higher across the board over the last year, according to the AA - evidence suggests motorists are embracing new technology as a way to cut the cost of cover.
Telematics uses an in-car box that records and analyses our driving styles and provides information that can be used to personalise premiums. Several insurers are introducing telematics to encourage younger drivers in particular to drive less aggressively and earn reduced premiums as a result. The logic is simple: careful drivers make better insurance risks. But the technology has come down in price so much that a mass-market rollout is getting closer, with devotees claiming it can reduce insurance premiums, lower driving costs and improve driver safety.
For example, Insurethebox, an online telematics-based insurer which launched last year, says two-thirds of its policyholders who received renewal notices in July and August were offered reductions in their premiums as a result of using the technology. Some of the savings topped £800, it says, with average reductions of 22 per cent (see case study).
With the firm, customers buy 6,000 miles of cover to start and a "ClearBox" gadget - about the size of a smartphone - is installed behind the dashboard. This monitors their driving and assesses their performance by different criteria, such as the time of day travelled, distance, speed, acceleration and braking, not to mention accidents. Drivers can earn up to 100 bonus miles per month if their driving profile puts them in a low-risk category.
For example, if you tend to make only a few journeys outside rush-hour, drive slowly and don't have a heavy right foot, you're likely to win bonus miles. On the other hand, if you drive a lot at night you're unlikely to win bonus miles as more accidents tend to happen then. Similarly, if you're a highrevving speed demon who routinely burns off from traffic lights, no bonus miles for you.
The GPS-enabled box wirelessly transmits the recorded data to central servers, which policyholders can then check online via personalised web pages, receiving advice on how they can improve and earn more bonus miles. Of course, young drivers between 17 and 22 have the most to gain by collating hard data that proves they are not the accident-prone speedsters insurance statistics would suggest. Insurethebox says average savings for this category of driver - which has seen insurance premiums rise more than 80 per cent in the last two years alone - are running at £200.
The Insurethebox Group chief executive Mike Brockman says: "We are empowering car owners to control their costs - as long as they buy into our approach. And there are many other benefits to society, such as safer roads and lower CO2 emissions The little black box that could help fight soaring car insurance costs as people drive more sensibly." Mr Brockman says there is evidence that the technology is positively modifying driver behaviour, with average miles earned per month per driver rising from 50 to 58 over the 15 months of the company's operation.
But what if customers want to move to another insurer? What happens to the box? "If a customer wants to leave us we simply switch the unit off and leave it in the car. It is too much of a hassle to remove it", says Mr Brockman. This leads to the unsatisfactory situation of a customer who may want to move to another telematics-based insurer having to have a replacement box fitted.
Mr Brockman admits the current situation isn't ideal but says: "Sharing boxes will probably come in the future but at the moment we all use different boxes with different technology." It is a point reiterated by Tom Woolgrove, head of personal lines at the insurer Direct Line, the UK's largest car insurer by market share. "We agree that this type of technology is going to become very important, particularly for younger drivers, but there are practical challenges with it at the moment," he says. "There is no technology standard for the boxes or the data, making sharing problematic. The boxes aren't portable either, making it difficult when you want to switch insurers." Insurance companies also have different models of what they consider to be safe driving. And Mr Woolgrove warns that young high-risk drivers who don't adopt the technology could find their premiums rising even further as the safer drivers begin to pay less.
That said, Direct Line, which owns the telematics company TRACKER, is piloting its own version of the ‘black box' over the next couple of months, and the Association of British Insurers is in talks with the motor industry about the possibility of making the devices standard in all cars. But there is a flipside to all this data transparency. Drivers who don't conform to a telematics-based insurer's definition of a ‘good' driver could see their premiums rising. And if you have an accident all the relevant data, such as the speed you were travelling, force of impact, direction of travel, incident time, will all be recorded.
This certainly makes it easier for insurers to assess what actually happened and apportion blame, but it also means no hiding place or benefit of the doubt for drivers. There are also potential privacy issues. Do you want your every move to be tracked and logged? When does the helpful box become the spy in the dashboard? Mr Brockman says: "When we first started off there were a lot of Big Brother comments, but as we've gone on people appreciate that it's all about promoting safe driving and paying less for your insurance."
The technology can certainly play an important role in improving driver safety. The box contains an accelerometer that can measure G-forces, so when a car is in an accident with an impact of more than 2.5G, for example, the box can automatically alert the insurer's call centre and prompt a call-back to the customer to check that they're all right. The in-built GPS integrates with mapping software to show exactly where the accident took place. Mr Brockman says: "This technology can save lives. Last week one of our customers had a shunt that registered more than 9G. Our call centre was alerted immediately and they were able to track the car and deduce from the data that it had rolled over after an accident on a country road. They alerted the emergency services.
Luckily our customer wasn't seriously hurt." Other insurers are adopting telematics technology, too, particularly to help young, safe drivers differentiate themselves from their wilder cohort. Young Marmalade, for example, the insurance and car purchase company, has introduced the ‘black box' technology to help keep tabs on its policyholders. Its marketing director Nigel Lacy explains: "Our objective is to get young drivers into safer cars, so we sell cars up to three years old with the telematics unit built in. If it spots bad driving - harsh acceleration and braking, speeding, fast cornering, that sort of thing - points are deducted from their journey score, which starts at 100. Persistent bad driving sees the premium go up by £250, then £500."
Drivers can review the data for every journey on the company's website and see what type of driving is considered ‘bad'. Marmalade, which targets 17 to 25-yearolds, developed the system in conjunction with the Transport Safety Research Centre and Loughborough University. The bottom line is that this technology can seriously slash insurance premiums, particularly for the young, argues Lacy. "Our fully comprehensive insurance for young men is currently averaging £2,600, compared to the AA's average of £4,006," he says. Co-operative Insurance has also adopted ‘smartbox' technology on its Young Drivers policies and it can only be a matter of time before many other insurers use telematics, too. Indeed, the AA is set to become the first broker to start using telematics in pricing this autumn. But how long it will take the insurance and motor industries to agree on common technology and data standards is anyone's guess. On past performance it would be unwise to hold your breath.
CASE STUDY
When Chris McMahon, 18, from Calvert Green near Buckingham, passed his driving test last year, online quotes for fully comprehensive insurance on his 1.0 litre Vauxhall Corsa were averaging around £3,000 - a staggering amount for a student to fork out. Then his mum told him about Insurethebox, an insurance company promising to reduce subsequent premiums if he had a special box fitted to his car that recorded his driving behaviour. "They came to my house and fitted the box in about half an hour", says Chris. "At first I tried to ignore the data. It was a bit like having Big Brother watching you! But I soon learnt that if was going to earn bonus miles and reduce my premium I would have to drive slower on country roads and drive less at night. In the first month I was only awarded four bonus miles. Then I got 20 to 30 miles, and in June I was awarded 60 miles." The reward for Chris's safer driving was a renewal premium of £1,100 - £1,800 less than his initial premium and around £800 less than his friends were paying. "I think it does make you a better driver", concludes Chris, who is about to go to University of Cumbria to study English. "It makes you think twice about doing some risky overtaking manoeuvre or going round corners too fast. And
The little black box that could help fight soaring car insurance costs
Insurers are turning to telematics to reduce premiums and encourage people to drive more safely. Matthew Wall explains.
As the OFT announced on Thursday an investigation into soaring car insurance premiums - 30 per cent higher across the board over the last year, according to the AA - evidence suggests motorists are embracing new technology as a way to cut the cost of cover.
Telematics uses an in-car box that records and analyses our driving styles and provides information that can be used to personalise premiums. Several insurers are introducing telematics to encourage younger drivers in particular to drive less aggressively and earn reduced premiums as a result. The logic is simple: careful drivers make better insurance risks. But the technology has come down in price so much that a mass-market rollout is getting closer, with devotees claiming it can reduce insurance premiums, lower driving costs and improve driver safety.
For example, Insurethebox, an online telematics-based insurer which launched last year, says two-thirds of its policyholders who received renewal notices in July and August were offered reductions in their premiums as a result of using the technology. Some of the savings topped £800, it says, with average reductions of 22 per cent (see case study).
With the firm, customers buy 6,000 miles of cover to start and a "ClearBox" gadget - about the size of a smartphone - is installed behind the dashboard. This monitors their driving and assesses their performance by different criteria, such as the time of day travelled, distance, speed, acceleration and braking, not to mention accidents. Drivers can earn up to 100 bonus miles per month if their driving profile puts them in a low-risk category.
For example, if you tend to make only a few journeys outside rush-hour, drive slowly and don't have a heavy right foot, you're likely to win bonus miles. On the other hand, if you drive a lot at night you're unlikely to win bonus miles as more accidents tend to happen then. Similarly, if you're a highrevving speed demon who routinely burns off from traffic lights, no bonus miles for you.
The GPS-enabled box wirelessly transmits the recorded data to central servers, which policyholders can then check online via personalised web pages, receiving advice on how they can improve and earn more bonus miles. Of course, young drivers between 17 and 22 have the most to gain by collating hard data that proves they are not the accident-prone speedsters insurance statistics would suggest. Insurethebox says average savings for this category of driver - which has seen insurance premiums rise more than 80 per cent in the last two years alone - are running at £200.
The Insurethebox Group chief executive Mike Brockman says: "We are empowering car owners to control their costs - as long as they buy into our approach. And there are many other benefits to society, such as safer roads and lower CO2 emissions The little black box that could help fight soaring car insurance costs as people drive more sensibly." Mr Brockman says there is evidence that the technology is positively modifying driver behaviour, with average miles earned per month per driver rising from 50 to 58 over the 15 months of the company's operation.
But what if customers want to move to another insurer? What happens to the box? "If a customer wants to leave us we simply switch the unit off and leave it in the car. It is too much of a hassle to remove it", says Mr Brockman. This leads to the unsatisfactory situation of a customer who may want to move to another telematics-based insurer having to have a replacement box fitted.
Mr Brockman admits the current situation isn't ideal but says: "Sharing boxes will probably come in the future but at the moment we all use different boxes with different technology." It is a point reiterated by Tom Woolgrove, head of personal lines at the insurer Direct Line, the UK's largest car insurer by market share. "We agree that this type of technology is going to become very important, particularly for younger drivers, but there are practical challenges with it at the moment," he says. "There is no technology standard for the boxes or the data, making sharing problematic. The boxes aren't portable either, making it difficult when you want to switch insurers." Insurance companies also have different models of what they consider to be safe driving. And Mr Woolgrove warns that young high-risk drivers who don't adopt the technology could find their premiums rising even further as the safer drivers begin to pay less.
That said, Direct Line, which owns the telematics company TRACKER, is piloting its own version of the ‘black box' over the next couple of months, and the Association of British Insurers is in talks with the motor industry about the possibility of making the devices standard in all cars. But there is a flipside to all this data transparency. Drivers who don't conform to a telematics-based insurer's definition of a ‘good' driver could see their premiums rising. And if you have an accident all the relevant data, such as the speed you were travelling, force of impact, direction of travel, incident time, will all be recorded.
This certainly makes it easier for insurers to assess what actually happened and apportion blame, but it also means no hiding place or benefit of the doubt for drivers. There are also potential privacy issues. Do you want your every move to be tracked and logged? When does the helpful box become the spy in the dashboard? Mr Brockman says: "When we first started off there were a lot of Big Brother comments, but as we've gone on people appreciate that it's all about promoting safe driving and paying less for your insurance."
The technology can certainly play an important role in improving driver safety. The box contains an accelerometer that can measure G-forces, so when a car is in an accident with an impact of more than 2.5G, for example, the box can automatically alert the insurer's call centre and prompt a call-back to the customer to check that they're all right. The in-built GPS integrates with mapping software to show exactly where the accident took place. Mr Brockman says: "This technology can save lives. Last week one of our customers had a shunt that registered more than 9G. Our call centre was alerted immediately and they were able to track the car and deduce from the data that it had rolled over after an accident on a country road. They alerted the emergency services.
Luckily our customer wasn't seriously hurt." Other insurers are adopting telematics technology, too, particularly to help young, safe drivers differentiate themselves from their wilder cohort. Young Marmalade, for example, the insurance and car purchase company, has introduced the ‘black box' technology to help keep tabs on its policyholders. Its marketing director Nigel Lacy explains: "Our objective is to get young drivers into safer cars, so we sell cars up to three years old with the telematics unit built in. If it spots bad driving - harsh acceleration and braking, speeding, fast cornering, that sort of thing - points are deducted from their journey score, which starts at 100. Persistent bad driving sees the premium go up by £250, then £500."
Drivers can review the data for every journey on the company's website and see what type of driving is considered ‘bad'. Marmalade, which targets 17 to 25-yearolds, developed the system in conjunction with the Transport Safety Research Centre and Loughborough University. The bottom line is that this technology can seriously slash insurance premiums, particularly for the young, argues Lacy. "Our fully comprehensive insurance for young men is currently averaging £2,600, compared to the AA's average of £4,006," he says. Co-operative Insurance has also adopted ‘smartbox' technology on its Young Drivers policies and it can only be a matter of time before many other insurers use telematics, too. Indeed, the AA is set to become the first broker to start using telematics in pricing this autumn. But how long it will take the insurance and motor industries to agree on common technology and data standards is anyone's guess. On past performance it would be unwise to hold your breath.
CASE STUDY
When Chris McMahon, 18, from Calvert Green near Buckingham, passed his driving test last year, online quotes for fully comprehensive insurance on his 1.0 litre Vauxhall Corsa were averaging around £3,000 - a staggering amount for a student to fork out. Then his mum told him about Insurethebox, an insurance company promising to reduce subsequent premiums if he had a special box fitted to his car that recorded his driving behaviour. "They came to my house and fitted the box in about half an hour", says Chris. "At first I tried to ignore the data. It was a bit like having Big Brother watching you! But I soon learnt that if was going to earn bonus miles and reduce my premium I would have to drive slower on country roads and drive less at night. In the first month I was only awarded four bonus miles. Then I got 20 to 30 miles, and in June I was awarded 60 miles." The reward for Chris's safer driving was a renewal premium of £1,100 - £1,800 less than his initial premium and around £800 less than his friends were paying. "I think it does make you a better driver", concludes Chris, who is about to go to University of Cumbria to study English. "It makes you think twice about doing some risky overtaking manoeuvre or going round corners too fast. And
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
THE SA State Government should look to Victoria to help lower our road toll
http://www.news.com.au/take-victorias-lead-on-road-safety-raa/story-e6frea6u-1226134324959
THE SA State Government should look to Victoria to help lower our road toll, SA's peak motoring body says.
The State Government's draft state road safety strategy, "Towards Zero Together" aims for a 30 per cent lower road toll, but the RAA says that does not go far enough.
RAA senior manager of mobility and safety Wendy Bevan said we should aim for a 50 per cent drop in the road toll by 2020, putting us on par with Victoria.
Ms Bevan said the biggest gains in road safety could be achieved through improved infrastructure, even though some drivers deliberately behave dangerously and break the law.
She said Victoria had a long-term transport plan that was supported by an investment strategy for roads and road safety, backed by a higher investment on transport infrastructure in that state.
"SA should establish a strong road hierarchy, such as exists in Victoria and we should also conduct a review of the learner driver system with a view to increasing learner driver hours, as also exists in Victoria."
Family First MP Rob Brokenshire said one of the key ways we had reduced the road toll historically was via safety improvements made by car manufacturers.
"The missing thing now is improved road infrastructure for safety and a stronger emphasis on tackling drink and drug driving," he said.
THE SA State Government should look to Victoria to help lower our road toll, SA's peak motoring body says.
The State Government's draft state road safety strategy, "Towards Zero Together" aims for a 30 per cent lower road toll, but the RAA says that does not go far enough.
RAA senior manager of mobility and safety Wendy Bevan said we should aim for a 50 per cent drop in the road toll by 2020, putting us on par with Victoria.
Ms Bevan said the biggest gains in road safety could be achieved through improved infrastructure, even though some drivers deliberately behave dangerously and break the law.
She said Victoria had a long-term transport plan that was supported by an investment strategy for roads and road safety, backed by a higher investment on transport infrastructure in that state.
"SA should establish a strong road hierarchy, such as exists in Victoria and we should also conduct a review of the learner driver system with a view to increasing learner driver hours, as also exists in Victoria."
Family First MP Rob Brokenshire said one of the key ways we had reduced the road toll historically was via safety improvements made by car manufacturers.
"The missing thing now is improved road infrastructure for safety and a stronger emphasis on tackling drink and drug driving," he said.
VIC > Gippsland Locals urged to have a say on speed limits
Locals urged to have a say on speed limits
http://sale.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/locals-urged-to-have-a-say-on-speed-limits/2288855.aspx?src=rss
12 Sep, 2011 02:05 PM
GIPPSLANDERS have been invited to have their say on what they believe are confusing or dangerous stretches of road where speed limit changes are required.
Gippsland East MLA Tim Bull said anyone who felt there were too many speed changes on a street, or believed they had a solution to make limits easier to understand should make a submission.
“In recent months both Federal colleague Darren Chester and I have had discussion with a number of residents in Stratford Maffra, Genoa, Bruthen, and Sarsfield who have raised various concerns with speed limit zones and the forum is now in place for them to have their say,” he said.
“It is important that speed limits provide a balance between safety and mobility, with consideration given to both traffic and pedestrians.
However, when too many speed limit signs and zones occur on short sections of our road network, this results not only in driver frustration and confusion, but potentially hazardous for drivers distracted between monitoring speed signs and car gauges.”
Gippsland MHR Darren Chester also said he had been contacted by local residents regarding speed limits at several road locations in Gippsland.
“Local motorists are telling me that they are frustrated and confused when travelling on certain stretches of road where there are several changes in the speed limit within a short distance,” he said.
“To achieve the highest levels of road safety we need to have consistent and appropriate speed limits across the whole road network,” he said.
The State Government requested VicRoads undertake the review with a view to investigating ways in which speed limits could be applied more consistently across the state and easier for drivers to adhere to.
The review of speed limits will investigate: Routes with large numbers of speed zone changes; opportunities to reduce the number of speed limit changes; and school speed zones, including lay-out and location, remote crossings, times of operation, days of operation, strip shopping centre times, speed limits in town centres, use and application of advisory speed limits, minimum length of speed zones and consistency of speed limits under similar conditions.
People interested in making a submission can check the specific terms of reference on the VicRoads website www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
Submiss ions are open until October 11 and can be sent to speedreview@roads.vic.gov.au or mailed to Speed Limit Review, 60 Denmark St, Kew, Victoria, 3101.
VicRoads will complete the review by December and present the findings to the government.
http://sale.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/locals-urged-to-have-a-say-on-speed-limits/2288855.aspx?src=rss
12 Sep, 2011 02:05 PM
GIPPSLANDERS have been invited to have their say on what they believe are confusing or dangerous stretches of road where speed limit changes are required.
Gippsland East MLA Tim Bull said anyone who felt there were too many speed changes on a street, or believed they had a solution to make limits easier to understand should make a submission.
“In recent months both Federal colleague Darren Chester and I have had discussion with a number of residents in Stratford Maffra, Genoa, Bruthen, and Sarsfield who have raised various concerns with speed limit zones and the forum is now in place for them to have their say,” he said.
“It is important that speed limits provide a balance between safety and mobility, with consideration given to both traffic and pedestrians.
However, when too many speed limit signs and zones occur on short sections of our road network, this results not only in driver frustration and confusion, but potentially hazardous for drivers distracted between monitoring speed signs and car gauges.”
Gippsland MHR Darren Chester also said he had been contacted by local residents regarding speed limits at several road locations in Gippsland.
“Local motorists are telling me that they are frustrated and confused when travelling on certain stretches of road where there are several changes in the speed limit within a short distance,” he said.
“To achieve the highest levels of road safety we need to have consistent and appropriate speed limits across the whole road network,” he said.
The State Government requested VicRoads undertake the review with a view to investigating ways in which speed limits could be applied more consistently across the state and easier for drivers to adhere to.
The review of speed limits will investigate: Routes with large numbers of speed zone changes; opportunities to reduce the number of speed limit changes; and school speed zones, including lay-out and location, remote crossings, times of operation, days of operation, strip shopping centre times, speed limits in town centres, use and application of advisory speed limits, minimum length of speed zones and consistency of speed limits under similar conditions.
People interested in making a submission can check the specific terms of reference on the VicRoads website www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
Submiss ions are open until October 11 and can be sent to speedreview@roads.vic.gov.au or mailed to Speed Limit Review, 60 Denmark St, Kew, Victoria, 3101.
VicRoads will complete the review by December and present the findings to the government.
Motorists should be retested every five years in order to keep their driver’s licence
http://www.caradvice.com.au/137336/motorists-should-be-retested-every-five-years-law-firm/
By Tim Beissmann | September 12th, 2011
Motorists should be retested every five years in order to keep their driver’s licence and make the roads safer, a Victorian law firm believes.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers has submitted a safety inquiry proposal to the Victorian Parliament with a view to improving road safety for motorcycle riders.
The firm’s TAC (Transport Accident Commission) principal, John Voyage, said the increasing number of motorcyclists on Victoria’s roads meant increasing safety and awareness of riders was of paramount importance.
“Victoria is experiencing a boom in motorcycle use, and attitudes to motorcyclists from the general motoring public and law and road safety agencies needs to change,” Mr Voyage said.
“It is essential that education for motorists is improved and one way to ensure this is would be the introduction of mandatory or voluntary refresher courses every five years.”
Maurice Blackburn’s submission suggests young motorists should have some form of refresher when graduating from red Ps to green Ps, and again when they graduate to their full licence.
Mr Voyage proposed retests for experienced drivers could be voluntary – in which case, drivers would be rewarded with reduced insurance premiums – or mandatory – where drivers would be trained and tested every five years in order to renew their licence.
The submission identifies a number of issues concerning motorcyclists and road safety including the increasing popularity of GPS and entertainment devices in cars and the subsequent increase in driver distraction.
Mr Voyage said the inquiry would bring together a range of views and opinions of road safety agencies, law authorities and the motorcycling community to create a coordinated approach to road and motorcycle safety.
As of January 2011, there were 160,635 motorcycles registered in Victoria. That’s more than one quarter of all bikes in the country, and represents growth of more than 40 per cent since 2006.
What do you think? Should all motorists be retested every five years, or is the suggestion overkill? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
By Tim Beissmann | September 12th, 2011
Motorists should be retested every five years in order to keep their driver’s licence and make the roads safer, a Victorian law firm believes.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers has submitted a safety inquiry proposal to the Victorian Parliament with a view to improving road safety for motorcycle riders.
The firm’s TAC (Transport Accident Commission) principal, John Voyage, said the increasing number of motorcyclists on Victoria’s roads meant increasing safety and awareness of riders was of paramount importance.
“Victoria is experiencing a boom in motorcycle use, and attitudes to motorcyclists from the general motoring public and law and road safety agencies needs to change,” Mr Voyage said.
“It is essential that education for motorists is improved and one way to ensure this is would be the introduction of mandatory or voluntary refresher courses every five years.”
Maurice Blackburn’s submission suggests young motorists should have some form of refresher when graduating from red Ps to green Ps, and again when they graduate to their full licence.
Mr Voyage proposed retests for experienced drivers could be voluntary – in which case, drivers would be rewarded with reduced insurance premiums – or mandatory – where drivers would be trained and tested every five years in order to renew their licence.
The submission identifies a number of issues concerning motorcyclists and road safety including the increasing popularity of GPS and entertainment devices in cars and the subsequent increase in driver distraction.
Mr Voyage said the inquiry would bring together a range of views and opinions of road safety agencies, law authorities and the motorcycling community to create a coordinated approach to road and motorcycle safety.
As of January 2011, there were 160,635 motorcycles registered in Victoria. That’s more than one quarter of all bikes in the country, and represents growth of more than 40 per cent since 2006.
What do you think? Should all motorists be retested every five years, or is the suggestion overkill? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Friday, September 2, 2011
New plan to reduce road fatalities
http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/news/politics/new-plan-to-reduce-road-fatalities/2277273.aspx?src=rss
BETTER education for new drivers and students, lower speed limits and more median strips will be used to achieve a target to reduce serious injuries and fatalities by 20 per cent by 2013.
Launching the second Road Safety Action Plan, Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne said the plan included practical measures such as flexible road barriers and median strips.
He said cuts to the police force would not impact on road safety.
"It's not necessarily about enforcement, it's also about education and preparing," Mr O'Byrne said.
The three-year plan includes investigating changes to the licensing system including curfews, passenger restrictions, greater mandatory learning hours and mobile phone bans as used in other states.
An alcohol interlock program will also be introduced for serious and repeat drink- driving offenders.
A reduction in the default speed limit on rural roads to 90km/h is to be implemented in the first two years of the plan, followed by reducing all 60km/h roads to 50km/h.
Work to implement the plan will be funded by the road safety levy, which generates about $9 million a year.
The first plan launched in 2005 aimed to cut serious injuries and fatalities by 20 per cent.
Mr O'Byrne said that goal had been exceeded with a reduction of 32.5 per cent.
Tasmania's road toll to date is 19 compared with 22 this time last year.
Police Commissioner Darren Hine said there was more work to be done.
"We don't want to see any crashes happen especially fatalities."
[LOGOa945] Have your say: Do you think the new Road Safety Action Plan will work?
examiner.com.au
Why is Baillieu ignoring road safety?
http://www.alpvictoria.com.au/news-events-media/news/why-is-baillieu-ignoring-road-safety-/
Why is Baillieu ignoring road safety?
Posted: Thursday, 1 September 2011 | By: James Merlino
A comprehensive road safety strategy to save lives should be delivered by the Baillieu Government immediately following today’s report showing road safety cameras work, Shadow Minister for Road Safety James Merlino said today.
The Auditor-General’s report into the Road Safety Camera Program confirms that speed cameras save lives.
The report states: “Road safety cameras improve road safety and reduce road trauma, and their ongoing use as an enforcement tool remains appropriate.”
“Speed cameras aren’t popular but they save lives, and it’s not surprising the Auditor-General has confirmed this,” Mr Merlino said.
“In Opposition, Terry Mulder and the Premier constantly criticised speed cameras. Now they are in Government, it’s time they acknowledge that speed cameras help stop dangerous driving.”
Mr Merlino said particularly now the AG report had been released, it was time the Baillieu Government outlined its strategy to reduce the road toll and keep Victorian drivers safe.
“Where is this Government’s comprehensive road safety strategy?” he said.
“Labor’s successful Arrive Alive strategy helped drive the road toll from 444 in 2001 to 288 last year – the lowest on record.
“More than nine months have passed since Arrive Alive was due for an update and it is still nowhere to be seen.
“Road safety has always had bipartisan support, however, the Labor Opposition will not give bipartisan support to a Government that is doing nothing.”
The Baillieu Government had:
· Shelved the update of Arrive Alive;
· Scrapped the ground breaking Road Safety Experience Centre, to be funded through the TAC, and
· Reduced funding for road safety initiatives.
“The Premier needs to understand you don’t reduce the road toll by doing nothing,” Mr Merlino said.
“The cost of road trauma is significant. In 2010, there were 288 road fatalities, 5392 hospital admissions, and the financial cost to Victoria is $3.8 billion per year.
“But it’s the human cost that you can’t put a figure on, with families and friends left devastated when a life is tragically cut short.
“The Minister for Roads promised to “up the ante” on road safety but has done next to nothing.”
In June, Labor released Below 200 By 2020 - Protecting Victorians on our Roads, which outlines a series of initiatives and an ambitious but achievable new target to reduce the State’s road toll to below 200.
“We urge the Government to take these ideas and implement them,” Mr Merlino said.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Vic Speed cameras not just 'revenue raisers'
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-31/auditor-general-says-speed-cameras-are-accurate/2863824
Vic Speed cameras not just 'revenue raisers'
State political reporter Alison Savage
Updated August 31, 2011 14:31:47
PHOTO: Speed cameras on the Hume were turned off last year over concerns about accuracy. (Peter Giafis: ABC) RELATED STORY: Hume speed cameras suspended over faultRELATED STORY: Govt refuses to waive Hume finesRELATED STORY: Hume speed cameras won't operate over Christmas
MAP: Melbourne 3000
An auditor-general's report has found Victorians can have faith in the accuracy of speed cameras operating in the state.
The report, tabled in State Parliament, found that the wide-spread public concern that speed cameras are "revenue raisers" is a misconception.
It found strong evidence to support claims that speed cameras act as a deterrent to dangerous driving.
"These evaluations have consistently found that cameras improve road safety outcomes through reduced speeding, fewer crashes and less road trauma," the report said.
In 2009-10, the State Government reaped $211.3 million from traffic camera infringements.
The auditor-general also found speed cameras are mostly accurate.
"While there can be no absolute guarantee over the accuracy of any system, the processes and controls in place provide a particularly high level of confidence in the reliability and integrity of the road camera system," the report said.
The auditor-general has recommended more regular independent testing for mobile speed cameras, to "allay public perceptions about [the program's] integrity and purpose."
The report found the processes for monitoring Victoria's fixed speed camera network has increased significantly since problems were identified with cameras on the Western Ring Road in 2003.
But the auditor-general has criticised the Baillieu Government's decision to publicly release the locations of speed cameras, saying it is "inconsistent with the intention of the program."
It found that in regional Victoria in particular, the publication of road camera locations is alerting drivers to the fact that there is no camera in particular areas for certain periods.
"As such, there is the opportunity for drivers to... identify areas where they are not going to get caught," the report said.
Police Minister Peter Ryan says the Government will now reconsider publishing the information.
"That is a recommendation and we will do as the auditor-general has suggested and reconsider it."
Vic Speed cameras not just 'revenue raisers'
State political reporter Alison Savage
Updated August 31, 2011 14:31:47
PHOTO: Speed cameras on the Hume were turned off last year over concerns about accuracy. (Peter Giafis: ABC) RELATED STORY: Hume speed cameras suspended over faultRELATED STORY: Govt refuses to waive Hume finesRELATED STORY: Hume speed cameras won't operate over Christmas
MAP: Melbourne 3000
An auditor-general's report has found Victorians can have faith in the accuracy of speed cameras operating in the state.
The report, tabled in State Parliament, found that the wide-spread public concern that speed cameras are "revenue raisers" is a misconception.
It found strong evidence to support claims that speed cameras act as a deterrent to dangerous driving.
"These evaluations have consistently found that cameras improve road safety outcomes through reduced speeding, fewer crashes and less road trauma," the report said.
In 2009-10, the State Government reaped $211.3 million from traffic camera infringements.
The auditor-general also found speed cameras are mostly accurate.
"While there can be no absolute guarantee over the accuracy of any system, the processes and controls in place provide a particularly high level of confidence in the reliability and integrity of the road camera system," the report said.
The auditor-general has recommended more regular independent testing for mobile speed cameras, to "allay public perceptions about [the program's] integrity and purpose."
The report found the processes for monitoring Victoria's fixed speed camera network has increased significantly since problems were identified with cameras on the Western Ring Road in 2003.
But the auditor-general has criticised the Baillieu Government's decision to publicly release the locations of speed cameras, saying it is "inconsistent with the intention of the program."
It found that in regional Victoria in particular, the publication of road camera locations is alerting drivers to the fact that there is no camera in particular areas for certain periods.
"As such, there is the opportunity for drivers to... identify areas where they are not going to get caught," the report said.
Police Minister Peter Ryan says the Government will now reconsider publishing the information.
"That is a recommendation and we will do as the auditor-general has suggested and reconsider it."
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