Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

GPS Study Shows Drivers Obey Speed For With Cash Incentives

July 1st, 2012

A recent study was conducted by traffic safety researchers in an attempt to find a way to incentivize drivers to obey the posted speed limits. The study was partially funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and implemented GPS tracking devices in order to gather accurate speed data. Eight vehicles were monitored with GPS tracking devices, with a total of 50 participants driving one of these vehicles for four weeks. At the end of each week, if the drivers avoided going five miles above the speed limit, they were rewarded $25. However, each time the drivers exceeded the speed limit by five to eight mph, three cents were docked from the reward. If the driver went nine or more mph above the limit, he or she was docked six cents.

“We found that the incentive system was incredibly effective in getting drivers to reduce their speeding,” said Ian Reagan, a traffic safety researcher for the NHTSA. “Egregious speed limit violations were almost eliminated — that’s driving nine or more [mph] over the speed limit.” For decades traffic safety experts have attempted to motivate drivers to obey speed limits. Speeding is deadly serious, and results in approximately 12,000 fatal accidents every year in the U.S.. Despite flashing signs informing drivers of their speed, increasingly costly speeding fines, and hidden speeding cameras, drivers continue to put themselves and others in danger by speeding.

At last, researchers have found a method that actually works, by using the carrot rather than the stick. “At least one driver said they made a game out of it,” Reagan said. “They wanted to see if they could keep that incentive amount of $25.” Unfortunately, it’s unlikely the government will be able to fund a program like this on a large scale. However, many insurance companies already offer discounts and other incentive programs for safe driving. Perhaps Progressive or Mercury insurance companies will soon track their customers with GPS tracking devices and offer rewards for obeying posted speed limits.

GPS Distance Measuring Makes Insurance Discounts More Accurate

May 13th, 2012

If you own a house in North Carolina, the cost of your homeowners’ insurance premium is affected by the proximity and quality of the nearest fire station. Houses within six driving miles of a station receive a discount on their insurance, and that discount increases if the station is particularly well equipped and staffed. In the past, insurance companies relied on brokers to provide information about each structure’s distance from the closest fire station, but they are now turning to GPS distance measuring to get more accurate information.

North Carolina’s insurance providers use a scale from 1 (best) to 10 (worst) to rate a fire department. The rating takes into account the training of a station’s firefighters, the quality of its equipment, and response time. Substations within a department’s district can increase its rating. If a house is located within a department with a great rating, its insurance costs are lower. However, most rural areas are rated around 9 and see only very small discounts. If a house is outside the limits of any fire department, a discount is not available.

Accurately measuring the driving distance from a house to a fire station has always been a very tedious process, but GPS distance measuring allows insurance companies to accomplish the task with convenience. Given the novelty of GPS in general, the new approach does occasionally need some adjustment. GPS distance measuring sometimes gives an incorrect reading, and the old-fashioned method of actually driving the route must correct it.

Existing policies are seeing a lot of changes, as insurance companies review their fire station information with the new GPS approach. Some policies are seeing discounts added, since they actually are within a department’s area. In other cases, a broker may have been a little optimistic when reporting the distance from the fire station for the original policy. Those policyholders would see their premiums rise as they lose their discounts.

Add insurance companies to the long list of industries that have made GPS a permanent part of the way they do business. It seems that each day brings a new story of how this technology makes someone’s job easier. And if your policy is reviewed and corrected, hopefully it will result in a bigger discount for you and not the other way around!

GPS Technology Serves As Smartphone Theft Insurance

April 16th, 2012

Thieves love smartphones as much as you do, but for different reasons. Smartphones are cool. They’re small. They’re expensive and easy to steal. A good smartphone can be a costly investment, and you probably want to keep yours in your own pocket until you buy a new one. But that’s exactly what thieves don’t want. They want your smartphone because it’s easy to steal and easy to sell. Stealing a phone at a coffee shop, a baseball game, or at a park is relatively easy, and thieves know it. That’s why they love smartphones, but that’s all changing.

GPS Technology: Thieves’ Worst Nightmare
You’re at a park, having a good time. You leave your phone on a bench for a mere second go throw away some garbage. You come back to find your phone gone. A couple of hundred bucks (or more) down the drain in a matter of seconds. However, with GPS tracking technology, there is a fighting chance of recovering your valuable investment.

Recently, police caught a young thief who stole two smartphones. Two girls left their phones in their car and forgot to lock the doors. The boy did what many thieves do: They see a phone, they go for it. What the young thief didn’t know was that one of the phones had GPS tracking technology. Only minutes after the girls reported what happened, the authorities were able to track down where both of the phones were. A nice, happy ending, thanks to GPS technology.

With GPS Technology, You Can Relax.
So you come back to the bench. Your phone is gone. What do you do? If your phone has a GPS tracking system, you can relax. The good news is that many smartphones now come with this technology. If your phone is stolen, you can use a computer to find its location on a map, and share the information with the police. Consumers can send a message to their smartphones, in case it was left at a friend’s house. If the phone contains confidential information, you can also lock or erase it remotely.

GPS technology is a thief’s worst nightmare, and it can be your best friend. GPS technology keeps your phone where it belongs—in your own pocket, not someone else’s.

Florida Dealership Tracks Car Buyers and Forces Life Insurance Purchase

November 8th, 2011

A used car dealership in Florida may have crossed the line by tracking customers who have bought vehicles from them.

In Jacksonville, Florida, the anger of a number of dissatisfied car buyers has prompted the Florida Attorney General’s office to launch a lawsuit against a local used car dealer. Customers of Beach Boulevard Automotive claim that, among other underhanded business practices, the dealership installed GPS devices on the cars they bought without their knowledge.

By continuing to monitor the location of sold cars, the dealership made it easier for itself to repossess cars in the event that payments were not made.

The practice may not have resulted in a lawsuit, however, except for the fact that some angry customers claim that Beach Boulevard Automotive repossessed their cars even though the payments were being made on time.

Since GPS tracking is a fairly new field of technology, the legal world is struggling to keep up with the new challenges it presents. The outcome of the Florida lawsuit may give an indication of how courts will respond in the future to unannounced installations of tracking systems for repossession purposes.

John King, the president of Beach Boulevard Automotive, responded to questions by insisting that the GPS systems are legal since the cars belong to the dealership until they are paid off by the customers. This is true if the cars are purchased by way of a direct loan. It must also be made clear to any car buyer (by way of contract) that a vehicle is equipped with a GPS tracker.

In addition to the GPS tracking and premature repossession charges, the lawsuit also claims that customers were required to buy a life insurance policy as part of their car purchase, and that the owners posted fake reviews on the web to boost their own public image. Only time will tell if the secret–some would say sneaky–GPS installations were invasive enough to merit the heavy penalties of a lawsuit.

Article Written by Mark Rummel

GPS Tracking and Lower Insurance Rates: Friend or Fraud?

August 4th, 2011

You may have heard that having a GPS tracking device in your car can help lower your insurance rates, but it is not as simple as just having the location system in place. Since GPS units can track speeding, hard braking, heavy accelerating, and driving frequency, insurance companies can determine exactly how safe they think you are when it comes to driving and then set your rates accordingly.

For example, if you live in a suburban neighborhood but work in the heart of the city, your time spent in rush-hour traffic could be a deterring factor in the eyes of the insurance company because they equate less time in the car with safety. However, if you are a responsible teen trying to overcome the stereotype of a teenage driver in order to lower your insurance rate, then a GPS tracking system can help the insurer see your level of commitment to safe driving.

One unquestionable advantage to using GPS tracking in your vehicle for both you and your insurance company is the deterrent it is to car thieves. An insurance agent is more likely to give you a lower rate on your car if they know they can more easily retrieve a stolen vehicle rather than replace one, especially if you live in a highly populated area where statistics for stolen cars are elevated.

If you are a business with a fleet of vehicles, then GPS tracking can definitely help lower your insurance rates. Whether you are a utilities company, delivery service, or contractor, if you own multiple vehicles, you should consider installing a GPS tracking device on each vehicle. Not only does it encourage your drivers to practice safe driving habits, but it also shows the insurance company that you are serious about taking care of your business assets. Again, such location devices also act as a deterrent to potential car thieves and give the insurance companies peace of mind knowing they can track down a stolen company vehicle.

How much GPS tracking can help lower your insurance rates really lies in the hands of the insurance company. It is theirs to determine the perimeters of safety, and it is theirs to determine the ratio of adjustment. However, it is yours to drive safely and to use your GPS tracking as you deem best, be it for personal information or for information that the insurance company can use for or against you.

Article Written by Hillary Mayfield

Florida Car Theft Rates Lowest Since 1967

July 11th, 2011

You’ve seen it on TV before: grainy black and white images of people stealing cars (or at least attempting to) while the cops sit back and watch it all transpire, awaiting the perfect moment to arrest them. That moment is usually when the ignition fails (all thanks to the ignition kill the police attach to the vehicle) and the car coasts to a stop, the thief in a panic.

This moment is very real, and thanks to the efforts of the Cape Coral Police Department and other counties in Florida, car theft rates haven’t been this low since 1967.

Authorities use a “bait vehicle” complete with camera and GPS tracking device. This vehicle usually ranks high on the stolen car list. Thieves often find these bait vehicles too tempting, which allows police to follow a thief’s every move. Eventually, thieves are apprehended, and police use this method of trapping car thieves as a warning to others. So far, this tactic has worked.

The bait car strategy has lowered the vehicle theft rate 31% in Charlotte County alone, which is a considerable amount.

This is good news for Florida car owners. Various cities and counties throughout Florida have long been car theft targets. Now, police (and citizens) have a way to fight back.

Article Written by Khristen Foss

Can GPS Lower Your Car Insurance Rates?

May 6th, 2011

Car insurance rates can vary drastically, depending on state laws; year, make, model, and features of the car; age and sex of the driver; and insurance company. The best way to get the lowest rate is to hunker down and really research the options. Different features on the car have affected insurance rates for some time. When shopping for insurance, your agent will likely ask you if there is a sun or moon roof on the car, if there are passenger airbags, or if your seats are automatic. GPS tracking systems are one of the newer features added to the list of factors that affect insurance premiums.

It is common knowledge that teenage drivers have higher insurance premiums because they are less experienced, and perceived as less careful drivers. Statistics tend to correspond with this stereotype, and so insurance companies protect their liabilities by charging more for teen car insurance. There is good news for responsible teen drivers who can’t afford insurance rates based on assumptions of their driving skills. There are a number of insurance companies willing to collect individual data about drivers, using GPS tracking systems.

The very act of installing a GPS tracking system already gives insurance companies a reason to lower rates. It shows that the driver is willing to prove to the insurer that he or she follows traffic laws and drives cautiously. Anyone can claim that they are safe drivers and declare victimhood of unfair stereotypes. Willingness to be monitored shows an understanding of the risk the insurance company is taking on.

Again, thorough research is your best friend when looking into the best auto insurance policy. Many of the policies that offer GPS tracking as an option, will also use the data collected to raise insurance rates if the data shows unsafe driving habits. Read the policy and ask questions to find out the details of the plan, so you can better avoid the types of driving behaviors that send alerts to your insurance company. Let us know what you think. Is providing insurance companies with tracking data a good way to save on premiums or will increased visibility lead to higher rates for most people?

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor

GPS Will Help Pay for Your Own Aston Martin

April 30th, 2011

If you have royal wedding fever, you may have noticed the sleek 1960s Aston Martin that the happily married couple drove away in on April 29. The Aston Martin was a gift to the Prince of Wales from his parents as a 21^st birthday present. If you have the cash, you may be considering buying an identical Aston Martin. While the car itself will set you back a bit, you can save some money by installing a GPS tracking device.

Insurance companies aren’t always agreeable. But, the one thing that these companies do agree upon is the fact that a GPS tracker means keeping an eye on your driving habits at all times.

This is great news for any insurer that wants to know how fast you drive. That’s why many insurance companies are offering a discounted rate to people who agree to use GPS technology.

The price of the flashy Aston Martin that charmed the world this morning is around $230,000 Pounds. That’s roughly $497,900 USD. With a price tag that high, it’s a good idea to save on insurance if you can! If you fancy yourself a great driver, why not put your skills to the test? GPS tracking devices are saving people all across the country lots of insurance dollars.

All you have to do is be willing to install a GPS tracker in your new Aston Martin for a few months. It might be tough to resist the urge to speed in a royal lookalike, but you may find that your insurance rates are a lot lower if you can respect the speed limits. Don’t worry, even if you can’t afford an Aston Martin, you can still lower your insurance rates – these GPS tracking deals apply to other vehicles too!

Article Written by Harriette Halepis

GPS Can Lower Your Car Insurance (Maybe)

April 12th, 2011

How many times have you thought to yourself, “If only my insurance company saw how safe I drive, they’d never charge me this much. I’m so low-risk!”

Well, that day has come. Companies like Progressive, State Farm, and All State now offer programs that allow you to demonstrate how safe a driver you truly are, with the added bonus of rewarding you with a discount.

The drawback: “safe” is defined by insurers.

Take Progressive’s Snapshot plan, for example. Simply sign up for the insurance company’s program, and receive a tracking device in the mail. Hook it up to your car following the simple instructions included with the device, and begin driving.

The Snapshot device tracks how much you drive, how suddenly you bring the car to a stop by tracking your speed, and what times of day you are driving. It does not record information as to where you are specifically, or whether or not you are speeding. Progressive uses this information to calculate a final discount aftersix months of data has been collected.

The premise behind Progressive’s safe driving standard is simple: the less you drive, the better your discount will be. Drive more during rush hour? You may not receive as big of a discount.

Although this will save some consumers money, is it right to exclude those who work hard for their money and have no choice as to what time they leave in the morning, or how far they drive? Shouldn’t there be different levels of service, helping those who safely navigate the calamity of rush hour day after day?

Share your thoughts with us!

Article Written by Khristen Foss

Use GPS Tracking to Lower Insurance Premiums?

March 23rd, 2011

Are you a safe driver? Do you think you’re paying higher for insurance than you should? For drivers who believe they are overpaying and would like to be able to prove that they are safer drivers, Progressive Auto Insurance is beginning a program that will allow drivers to install a GPS tracking device in their cars.

The GPS tracking device will track how hard they brake as well as what percentage of their driving is day driving compared to what percentage is nighttime driving, according to USA today.

Drivers who opt into the program, called Snapshot, can save, on average, $150.00 per year.

The programs are entirely voluntary, but have still, as most GPS tracking programs tend to do, have caught flak as being an Orwellian program. The primary concern of critics is that the insurance agencies will make the tracking devices mandatory.

In addition, while Progressive and other insurance agencies with similar programs claim that they will only use the devices to give discounts as opposed to punitive penalties, some, such as Robert E. Smith of Privacy Journal, fear that the rules could change.

Progressive believes this is a massive benefit for drivers. “Snapshot provides the first tangible way for you to tell the insurance company ‘This is who I am’ as a driver.”

What do you think? Privacy nightmare, or good way to reduce your insurance premiums?

Article Written by Greg Minton