MGF wrote:How does the use of these devices result in the insurer being more profitable without improving the identification of risk?
I suggest that use of the devices will reduce risk, but not because of any ability on the part of the device to measure risk. The reduction of risk will come through the effect on the behaviour of the monitored driver. In terms of measuring risk, I believe these devices are an abomination - if anyone has evidence to the contrary I should love to be corrected.
We have heard from Dom of this forum (new Chairman of his local IAM Group, congratulations) that he achieved an obvious and exceptional deterioration in his black box assessment when he attended an IAM Regional training day; not because of harsh braking but because of use of firmer braking and acceleration. I heard from an HPC member that his results were universally awful for two reasons, confirmed by the black box company but nonetheless recorded by them - he was working on shifts in a hotel and was therefore regularly out late, and his route to and from home involved 'traffic calming measures', driving over which was treated by the insurance company as though it was harsh braking because of the accelerations recorded.