Well, you may not have a choice if Allstate is able to broadly use new technology for which it recently received a patent. Known as “traffic-based driving analysis,” this technology would allow the insurance provider to record various data about drivers, their actions and their driving environments.
What Could Allstate Monitor with this Technology?
discusses the potential impacts that
newly patented technology could
have on motorists & their privacy.
Just some of the factors that this technology could record data about include:
- A driver’s heart rate, blood pressure, head position, eye level and seat position
- A driver’s behavior behind the wheel – like whether a driver may be using a cellphone, eating, etc.
- The number and type of passengers traveling in the vehicle – like whether passengers are human or animals, etc.
- The environment within the vehicle cabin – such as whether there is alcohol present in the air within the cabin, the stereo volume, etc.
According to Allstate, the purpose of this technology is to monitor traffic conditions and driver behaviors to “better equip [motorists] to drive safe.”
Concerns about this “Spy” Technology
As invasive as this monitoring may seem, the above list may not be the extent of the data Allstate wants to collect – and its policyholders are clearly not the only ones who may be subjected to such monitoring.
In fact, because there doesn’t seem to be limits to the data this technology could collect at this point, some are concerned that the insurance provider may also:
- Capture data like personal information, such as PIN numbers and/or information about drivers in other vehicles
- Sell some or all of the data collected.
As Bob Hunter, insurance director for the Consumer Federation of America, has explained regarding the possible problems and concerns with this technology:
So my car spies on me and on other drivers near me?… Even if I give permission for this intrusive technology, my car spies on unsuspecting passengers and even on unsuspecting pedestrians or cars passing by?
So, as the title asks, would you let Allstate monitor you as you drive? Do you think that the invasive nature of this technology is worth the purported safety benefits? Post your opinions on our Facebook & Google+ pages.
Contact a St Louis Auto Accident Lawyer at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law
If you or someone you love has been harmed in a traffic accident – or if you have lost a loved one in a fatal wreck, contact a St Louis auto accident lawyer at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law for effective help with your financial recovery.
At Brown & Brown, our attorneys have a long-standing commitment to serving our clients, and we are experienced at aggressively defending our clients’ rights in any legal setting.
To learn more about how we can help you, attend a free, no obligations initial consult with a St Louis auto accident lawyer at Brown & Brown. You can schedule this meeting by calling us at 573-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office. You can also email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen.
