12-16-2016, 01:30 PM
(12-16-2016, 01:13 PM)MidTowner Wrote: I know of only one in our market- Desjardins- that has an OBD interface that collects data to gauge driving style. Their program offers discounts only, not penalties, and is very limited (the discounts are capped at a low level). It's a pilot.
But that is exactly what I mean- giving insurers more data and allowing them to charge according to the risks the data suggest would penalize the driving habits you described above. But right now, in Ontario, giving insurers those ability would be met with an outcry.
I like this in theory, my biggest problem is that I don't trust insurers. Everybody makes mistakes, and I worry insurance companies will abuse the data in ways that we don't necessarily anticipate for their own benefit. Although I'm sure there are safeguards that could be in put in place.
This quote from your linked article kind of tickled me:
"To further ease fears of government surveillance, driving data will be collected by a private company and then reported to the state DoT."
I don't love the government surveillance part of the VMT tax, but I find it amusing that I'm suppose to feel comforted by random profit-maximizing private company having the data instead.