Insurers sending black box drivers back to school

Drivers hoping for lower premiums from having black box telematics systems in their cars could find themselves being sent tutorials by their insurers to keep their premiums low.

British firm Driver Risk Dynamics has developed a series of evidence-based online driver behaviour courses aimed at improving driver behaviour behind the wheel.

The company is in discussions with a number of leading insurers who are already using black boxes to monitor drivers’ performance, with the potential for ‘at risk’ drivers being asked to complete the online tutorials. Drivers are monitored for safety and behavioural improvement and those who fail the computerised courses could be asked to undertake further coaching or find their premiums increase.

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However, completing the company’s virtual courses successfully could see drivers paying less for their insurance, as they’d be seen as less of a risk than those who hadn’t.

Driver Risk Dynamics’ John Newman says: “Telematics have become a fact of life for many motorists, especially those who want to be rewarded for driving safely and responsibly. Our evidence based interventions are a natural next step for drivers who want low insurance premiums or just want to make sure their driving skills and attitudes are up to scratch.”

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More than 300,000 cars are already fitted with black boxes to track speed, location, braking, acceleration and cornering for insurance purposes and some experts have predicted that every car in the UK could be fitted with black box technology within the next few years.

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