Black boxes should help save lives - not just insurance costs
While efforts to bring down the cost of cover for young drivers
and the number of accidents they suffer are very welcome, there
are worrying indications that insurers and the police will not
make the most of 'black box' technology to improve driver
safety.  In Ireland, Axa has been testing a GPS gadget called
Traksure, which continuously checks a car's speed and location,
then compares that data with the local speed limit. Those
driving within the speed limits are rewarded with lower
premiums. But those who break the speed limit frequently in any
one month receive a warning letter. Three letters and your
premium goes up. However, Axa promised policyholders that this
information would not be passed on to police unless legally
required.  This raises a whole host of questions about morality.
Such offenders are, after all, breaking the law and endangering
people's lives.  Norwich Union, which has been testing black
boxes in Britain, says that it is le