Technology: Is it time for telematics?

When Aviva introduced its flagship telematics programme in 2004, the industry was optimistic. The ability to price risk according to driver behaviour seemed like an ideal way for insurers to make money out of the soft motor market.

The programme involved Aviva fitting cars with boxes that monitored which roads drivers used and the time of day they drove. The idea was that underwriters would be able to assess and price risk more accurately using this information. It was also hoped that the potential for lower insurance premiums would encourage high-risk drivers to change their bad habits. But motorists and the car manufacturers proved slow to adopt the technology, and Aviva shelved its telematics programme in 2008.

Now, however, it is now looking to break back into telematics. And it is not alone. The AA, AXA, the Co-op and Swinton have all shown interest in rolling out their own systems.

An AA spokesman believes the recent European Court of Justice ruling on gender pricing had given motor insurers a wake-up call on the potential value of the system. He says: “Given the gender directive, we think telematics might finally start to get a bit more of a hold.”

New and improved

Much has changed since Aviva’s last foray into the market. The main difference is that telematics technology has become a great deal more advanced. A typical box can now record the location of a car at all times and log driver behaviour; acceleration; and driving, braking and cornering speed. It can then send the information to the insurer in real time.

Using this information, underwriters can judge risks more accurately. A driver that drives aggressively, brakes hard and accelerates too quickly, for instance, is more likely to have an accident, so their premiums would be adjusted accordingly.

If insurers provide the option, drivers could monitor how they drive online and see how this affects their premiums. This could help improve driver behaviour.

The high level of detail that insurers could obtain about accidents may also cut claims costs. For example, if two cars fitted with telematics systems had a crash, insurers would know instantly where it happened and how fast each car was going. This would help to cut the number of fraudulent whiplash claims, as insurers would know how fast the cars were travelling.

Telematics boxes are now also cheaper and easier to make and install, which makes the system more viable for insurers to roll out. Box manufacturer Octo’s head of UK sales, Andrea Natali, says: “The product has become cheaper and cheaper every year.”

Meanwhile, motor premiums have increased, improving the cost-effectiveness of telematics.

There’s an app for that

So what does the future of telematics look like? Accenture is developing a system that would serve insurers and also coach drivers. The system would link up to an app on a driver’s smartphone and give an audible warning when they break the speed limit or enter a high crash-risk area.

The system could also call the emergency services when it sensed a crash, which means medical and roadside assistance would be summoned to the scene even if both drivers were incapacitated or dead.

An additional benefit is that the driver could use the app to track their vehicle if it was stolen.

Accenture estimates that careful drivers could save an average of 30% on their premiums by using its telematics technology.

Telematics technology has clearly moved on since Aviva’s first attempt to break into the market. Interest from insurers and consumers is growing and a lot of earlier hurdles have been overcome. After a false dawn, many insurers believe that this time round, telematics is here to stay.