Bell Safedriver Scheme?

[mossj88]

I've just insured my car with Bell/Admiral, the quote they gave me was around £350 less than any others.. When I got in contact though they said this is part of the "safe driver" scheme...

 

Essentially it works with a tracker installed in your car that monitors... from what I gather pretty much everything, after six months if your a "good driver" you get a further 5% (or even 20% discount).

 

It's been fitted to my car today, but I'm wondering if anyone else has/had one and could shed light on what you can and can't get away with?

 

P.S if your what they deem a "bad driver" they'll add a surcharge of 5%/20% to you bill

[Gibbo]

http://www.bell.co.uk/policyDocs/BL110_TELEMATICS_PB_A5_POLICY_BOOK_0512.pdf

[hardtailstar]

Personally id be a bit hesitant for this scheme as what I think is a good driver could be different to what they think. But they probably have a set ideal of a good driver they are basing it on.

 

Also I dont think id be happy with the insurance company knowing everywhere I drive to etc, not that im trying to hide where i go its just it seems too 'Big Brother' for me.

[sippo]

See how can you classify a good driver?!

 

I had a car following this morning at 7.20am in the rain, and she had no lights on. It was dark, and across country. That to me is dangerous driving, so would the device pick that up?!

[Norphy]

No but it must have an accelerometer and a GPS unit in the thing so it'd be able to detect sudden acceleration and braking, speeding and impacts at the very least.

[Roberto]

See how can you classify a good driver?!

 

I had a car following this morning at 7.20am in the rain, and she had no lights on. It was dark, and across country. That to me is dangerous driving, so would the device pick that up?!

 

Perhaps not, but are you saying that if their device isn't perfect out of the gate they might as well not even try?

[mossj88]

I beleive from what my girlfriend says the guys where playing with just about everybit of the car... So I wonder if they've hooked it up to the ECU as well. It's a big bit of electronics for just a gps and accelerometer.

 

I've done a bit of research and this is the company that offers it: Octo Telematics - Designing and Leading Telematics

 

I was just wondering if anyones had any personal experiences of what is "good driving" in their eyes, I'm worried that with the amount of pot holes in leicester will score me way down.

 

P.S I totally agree with what others are saying without the device being situational aware, how does it know what is "good" and what is "bad"...

[GeeHubb]

Ah, but don't forget the 'placebo effect'! You've got it fitted therefore you will be more conscious of how you are driving therefore you will become a better driver. Obviously it will know whether you are exceeding the speed limit, it can probably tell whether you are tailgating from your speed and constant braking etc. I suspect that those will be the type of misdemeanours that would mark anyone out as a bad driver.

 

Things that it wouldn't be able to tell would be whether you were on your mobile phone or eating a sandwich and swigging from a bottle of vodka -now that would be good!

[SYNACK]

Eeep, I'd never get one of thee fitted as it is basically just encouraging the insurance companies to get even worse. I'm just waiting for the first pileup of cars that has insurance denied because the recorded reaction time of drivers two and three were 10ms slower than the average and so the drivers were 'obviously' tired or drunk or something to let them off paying. Insurance companies will do whatever then can and need to in order to get out of paying out for anything. This kind of stuff is just giving them licence to not pay out for anything. Fine if you never get involved in an accident but it does not account for people hitting you or overly adverse conditions.

[pcstru]

I was just wondering if anyones had any personal experiences of what is "good driving" in their eyes,

 

Good driving for an insurance company will be a correlation between whatever data the device accumulates and accidents. So if they determine that data bump A has a statistically significant correlation with a bump in claims, then that behaviour will become bad driving. I think the key question with these devices should be whether the companies will give feedback so that drivers can have a choice to alter their behaviour from A, *whatever* that might be.

[pcstru]

This kind of stuff is just giving them licence to not pay out for anything. Fine if you never get involved in an accident but it does not account for people hitting you or overly adverse conditions.

 

It's a choice. Some people are happy for their behaviour to be monitored and even to adjust that behaviour if that results in lower insurance premiums. It's like the choice of driving a 1.0 L polo instead of an old V8. Perhaps insurance companies notice a correlation between people who allow devices to be fitted and lower accident rates. People who don't have them will end up paying a premium. Their choice.

[newpersn]

I wouldnt have their "tracker" fitted. I rather be limited in driving time than be watched where i go.

 

Although me saying that. I think it would be good for first time drivers. Try and keep there insurance down. ( i payed £1500 on a 97 Escort 1.3 Encore 4 years ago (was meant to be £1800 but i did the Plus and knocked it down by £300))

[SYNACK]

It's a choice. Some people are happy for their behaviour to be monitored and even to adjust that behaviour if that results in lower insurance premiums. It's like the choice of driving a 1.0 L polo instead of an old V8. Perhaps insurance companies notice a correlation between people who allow devices to be fitted and lower accident rates. People who don't have them will end up paying a premium. Their choice.

 

Also called strongarming in certain situations.

[CarlH82]

Hi all

 

Sorry to wake up an old thread but I have one of these boxes in my car. I have to be very careful what I do. 1.9 CDTI Astra, not easy to maintain what they consider a "safe speed".Especially when it doesn't feel like you're driving as fast as you are.

 

From what I've been told and from what I can gather, the box will pick up on the following:

 

Speeding: Obvious but will flag you at even 1mph over the limit. I've ben as careful as possible, but take care when "free rolling" downhill

Sharp breaking: some things are impossible to predict when driving, but when the time comes to hit that break, it will flag regardless of whether you are in the wrong or not.

Harsh Accelleration: Even accellerating quickly to 30 mph it will flag.

Harsh turning: not too clear on this one but the guy who installed it told me that it will pick up on turning corners or swerving too harshly

Times that you drive: If you drive between 11pm and 6am you are considered a risk, so this will be flagged also.

 

I don't think it picks up on whether you have your lights on in the dark, or anything like your door not being closed properly. but don't quote me on that.

Not sure if I have missed anyting out, but they are the main factors. If any of the above is nothing for you to worry about then yes, have it installed, save yourself a few hundred £££'s, build up 1 yr no claims (10 month policy optional) then shop around. otherwise if you have a lead foot and no patience, steer clear.

 

Hope this info helps

 

Carl

[Miscbrah]

I can't wait until they put cameras in my house to bring my house insurance down...

[mossj88]

Just thought I'd update this thread... I've had the box for about 3 months and they've decided I'm an average to poor driver (I've been enjoying my new car a little too much)... I don't think I'll fall into either 20% so it hasn't really effected anything.

[CAM]

Insurance companies increase your insurance premium for proving you are competent to drive (See significant rises for drivers once they pass their tests as they are 'on their own'). They can take a running leap with this idea as I don't trust what their idea of 'safe driver' will be.

 

If Carl's post is anything to go by, that's nothing short of frightening.

[mossj88]

I think they increase your premiums after passing your test because your no longer required to be supervised by someone older and "more responsible", your also free to grab all your mates and run down to mcdonalds. So TBH I see why they increase premiums on new drivers.

 

Carls post is right about what it's reading but as I say as long as your not terrible then it's not going to shoot you in the foot.

[rich_tech]

Hi all

 

Sorry to wake up an old thread but I have one of these boxes in my car. I have to be very careful what I do. 1.9 CDTI Astra, not easy to maintain what they consider a "safe speed".Especially when it doesn't feel like you're driving as fast as you are.

 

From what I've been told and from what I can gather, the box will pick up on the following:

 

Speeding: Obvious but will flag you at even 1mph over the limit. I've ben as careful as possible, but take care when "free rolling" downhill

Sharp breaking: some things are impossible to predict when driving, but when the time comes to hit that break, it will flag regardless of whether you are in the wrong or not.

Harsh Accelleration: Even accellerating quickly to 30 mph it will flag.

Harsh turning: not too clear on this one but the guy who installed it told me that it will pick up on turning corners or swerving too harshly

Times that you drive: If you drive between 11pm and 6am you are considered a risk, so this will be flagged also.

 

I don't think it picks up on whether you have your lights on in the dark, or anything like your door not being closed properly. but don't quote me on that.

Not sure if I have missed anyting out, but they are the main factors. If any of the above is nothing for you to worry about then yes, have it installed, save yourself a few hundred £££'s, build up 1 yr no claims (10 month policy optional) then shop around. otherwise if you have a lead foot and no patience, steer clear.

 

Hope this info helps

 

Carl

 

The thing is, the highway code basically teaches safe driving, a lot of people don't choose to follow that, things like Sharp breaking - I would wager if it wants to see how often you break sharply, i.e if your a tailgater and doing it regularly, not leaving enough room between you and the car in front of you, whereas it would expect a minimum amount of sharp breaking i.e. if someone pulls out in front of you sharpish or someone walks out into the road which are obviously unavoidable.

 

I would wager most of them have minimum amounts where they consider normal on there, rather than one time over raise the insurance.

 

I am all for the drive over 100mph on a public road and get cancelled though, personally I would like capping it dependent on the road speeds also there as I don't know who thinks its a great thing doing 50 in a 30 and likewise.

 

I am all for reforming new driver stuff too in UK, i.e. no carrying passengers after you pass your test for a period

Edited February 13, 2013 by rich_tech

[mossj88]

It doesn't appear to have minimum amounts, for example a motorway drive you have to stick at 70mph which TBH I found dangerous. That said it's only if your in the bottom 20% of their drivers that you will see any effect on anything (they will charge you an extra fee 6months in).

 

I too am all for the new driver stuff, personally I think it should be more like the motorcycle licenses you start off with a small car and no passengers and then you 'upgrade' by doing another test after a year or so with that.

Edited February 13, 2013 by mossj88

[Gibbo]

Just thought I'd update this thread... I've had the box for about 3 months and they've decided I'm an average to poor driver (I've been enjoying my new car a little too much)... I don't think I'll fall into either 20% so it hasn't really effected anything.

 

Have they given you details on why they think that?

 

And, more importantly, will it make you change your current driving style?

[mossj88]

Have they given you details on why they think that?

 

And, more importantly, will it make you change your current driving style?

 

I suspect it's because I do have a mild case of lead foot, when it comes to coming off the lights (drivers in Leicester typically drive up your backside so I prefer to have my own space). I also typically use my car to pick up my son at night which marks me down.

[Pyroman]

I don't get the argument that driving at 70 on the motorway is dangerous, i drive at 55-60 because that's how fast my van cruises at and i've never had an issue, also for tailgaters i completely ignore them, if you need to get past me go around, otherwise i don't care how close you get

[CHR1S]

Surely this can come down to the type of car you drive too?

 

If you drive a 600bhp sports car with 800 ft/lb, slick tyres and carbon brakes EVERY turn, acceleration and stop would be a magnitude more "forceful" than a 1L 80bhp Polo.

Even a sporty diesel would have significantly more torque than a petrol and generate more G's for the accelerometer, wouldn't it?

[shadowx]

I don't get the argument that driving at 70 on the motorway is dangerous, i drive at 55-60 because that's how fast my van cruises at and i've never had an issue, also for tailgaters i completely ignore them, if you need to get past me go around, otherwise i don't care how close you get

 

Going over 70 literally saved my life on the bike when some twazzock doing 65 in the middle lane decided to overtake and came (and I mean this quite literally) half way into my lane while I was sitting next to him. If my bike were limited to 70mph regardless then I would be dead.

 

Speed does not kill, speed has NEVER killed. Dangerous and irresponsible drivers (particularly those that don't know the limits of their vehicle and themselves) kill people.

 

Speed != dangerous driving.

 

/rant

 

 

I am looking at insuring a car this month once I (hopefully) pass my test, I have had bikes for over 2 years now, completely clean (touch wood) and it's going to cost me a bomb to get insurance. I've looked at these safe driver schemes and what not but at the end of the day it's not worth it for me...