I came across this topic in the New York Post about smart car manufacturers sharing our driving data with insurance companies.  I got a little aggravated to read about cases like Kenn Dahl’s, where his insurance rates shot up by 21% without his knowledge.  The reason for such an increase was all because data collected by his Chevy Bolt’s OnStar Smart Driver system was shared with insurance companies.  With smart cars, smart phones, smart this, smart that, we are losing our privacy and being tracked with our every move.

Imagine getting a 258-page report detailing every aspect of your driving habits over six months. This report includes when you hit the brakes a bit harder or accelerate quickly.  I am a ‘breaker’  and constantly hit the brakes, then speed up.  That’s just the way I drive.  Passengers have complained that they feel nauseous from my driving.  For car manufacturers to give a report to insurance companies is invasive, to say the least. Kenn Dahl expressed feeling betrayed, and I can see why. We buy cars for transportation, not for them to track and potentially penalize us for every driving quirk.

Not Just Electric Vehicles

If you are thinking that this does not affect you because it’s limited to electric vehicle owners, think again.  Cadillac drivers are facing similar issues, with one considering legal action after being denied insurance by multiple companies due to their driving data.

What makes this very concerning is that it isn’t just a GM problem. Other car manufacturers like Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda, Kia, and Hyundai are also collecting data through internet connectivity and sharing it with insurers. It is a widespread practice that many drivers might not even be aware of. I drove a Subaru and hook up my phone to the car link and had no idea they could track my driving habits.

There are some companies like Ford who give drivers the option to consent to sharing their data.  It may sound like Ford is more on our side but how many people actually read through those terms and conditions screens?   And even if you read the 2,000 words and opt-out, there’s still a question of how much control we really have over our own data.

I understand that car companies and insurers might argue that sharing this data leads to more personalized insurance coverage, but I feel like our privacy is being sacrificed. I feel we should be allowed to give consent to any that info is shared about us. If companies are going to collect and share our data, we should have full knowledge and control over how it is being used.  At the same time, we are applauding technology and progress, we losing more of our privacy in the digital age.

Is Your Teen 'Road Ready?'

• Passengers

  
  In a study evaluated by the NHTSA, teen drivers were two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in risky behaviors when driving with just one teenage peer vs driving alone. From there the risk of a fatal crash goes up in direct relation to the number of teenagers in the car. This is the reason each state restricts the number and type of passengers a beginner driver is allowed to carry; stick to these laws no matter how long -or short – the trip is. Set driving ground rules with your teen and explain the consequences for breaking them; put it in writing and enforce it!

• Buckle up – it’s not only the law in every state, it’s lifesaving advice.

  
  51% of the teen drivers who died in 2021 were unbuckled. Sadly, passengers follow their example; when a teen driver involved in a fatal accident wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, nine out of ten passengers who died were also unbuckled. This lesson has to start when they are very young; teach your kids to buckle up as soon as they graduate from a car seat. The NHTSA lists distraction, comfort and a false sense of safety as the main reasons kids ride beltless. A child distracted by games or snacking may just forget to buckle, so keep reminding them. Uncomfortable seatbelts may be an indication your child isn’t ready to leave their booster seat. Many kids – and adults – think they don’t need a belt on a short trip or at reduced speeds, but in fact, most fatal crashes happen within 25 miles of home and at speeds of less than 40 miles per hour. Their most important advice, buckle up yourself. When parents and caregivers fail to fasten their belt, children are less likely to wear theirs.

• Drowsy Driving

  
  Studying, part-time jobs and extracurricular activities can impact your kid’s bedtime routine. A sleep deprived teen driver is an impaired teen driver. Drowsiness affects alertness, reaction time and judgement. Drivers 17-23 years old, those who sleep less than six hours a night, who drive on rural roads or who drive after midnight are at the highest risk of an accident. Make sure your teen gets a good night’s sleep, monitor their driving after dark and pay attention to your state’s restrictions for nighttime driving.

• Distracted Driving

  
  An inexperienced teen can’t afford any distractions. According to the NHTSA, dialing a phone increases a teen’s risk of crashing by six! Texting increases the risk 23 times over. It’s not just smart devices causing distractions. Loud music can prevent a driver from hearing an approaching emergency vehicle or another driver’s warning horn. A teen late for school may try to make up time by fixing their hair, downing a breakfast sandwich or cup of coffee or applying lipstick while driving. Anything that takes their focus off the road – and that includes hands-free devices – reduces their ability to react to a sudden stop in front of them, a pothole or a patch of ice. Teach by example, make driving your number one priority when behind the wheel.

• Hands on the Wheel

  
  A tire blows out, a car drifts into their lane, a child or pet runs in front of the car or they hit black ice. All of these road emergencies require quick reactions and total control of the vehicle. Today driving instructors recommend holding the steering wheel at the 9-o-clock and 3-o-clock position — opposite sides of the wheel halfway up. This hand position allows good control over the wheel while reducing the risk of injury from the airbag in a crash. A bonus to proper placement, hands that are on the wheel aren’t texting, eating or applying make-up!

• Shoes Make a Difference

  
  Believe it or not footwear is the cause of around 16,000 crashes each year! (NHTSA) Drivers of all ages should be aware of ‘pedal error’ – a high heel caught under the brake or accelerator, a slippery dress shoe sole sliding off the clutch or a chunky wedge catching both pedals at once. Flip Flops are hard to keep on while walking, image one falling off between the pedals at 60 miles per hour? Go shoeless? Sweaty feet can slide off as well and, if you are involved in an accident, shoes protect your feet from glass and debris when you get out to inspect the damage. Thin soled shoes are the best choice for driving, keep a pair in the car to slip on before starting up.

• Keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road - your kids are watching you.

  
  Driving this lesson home, the best thing you can do as a parent is to be a good role model. Set an example for them and practice safe driving by wearing that seat belt, putting down the phone, being courteous to other drivers and obeying all the laws.