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NRMA calls for car surveillance
via GPS
July 7, 2007
The advent of global positioning systems that track the location of cars
for insurance companies could prevent fatal car accidents, particularly those caused by youths, the NRMA says.
Chief
executive David Issa said it was only a matter of time before Australian insurers started planting electronic devices in vehicles
at the request of customers, or utilising existing GPS devices already in cars.
GPS technology would send a message
to a satellite and onto an insurance company's computer system, telling it the car's location and what time it is
being driven.
Such technology will let Australians opt for "pay-as-you-drive" insurance, where the cost
of premiums go up or down depending on how far and when a car is being driven.
The technology will also have a
positive effect on road safety, according to Mr Issa.
"If the car's driven by a P-plater between 11 o'clock
at night and six o'clock in the morning, the insurer will know about it," Mr Issa said.
Mr Issa accepted
privacy issues could arise from placing trackers in younger driver's cars.
"It could be a bit Big Brother-ish,"
Mr Issa said.
"But I'm a parent and if it meant my child was a bit safer as a result, I'd be happy
to take it out with my kids when they start driving."
State governments around the country are under increasing
pressure to clamp down on reckless driving by youths after a series of fatal accidents.
The NSW state government
this week introduced laws that ban drivers on provisional licences from having more than one passenger under 21 in their car
between 11pm and 5am, and there have been calls for curfews for all P-platers beyond a certain time of day.
Mr
Issa said the new monitoring devices, which are currently being piloted in the United Kingdom and the United States, could
also prevent accidents caused by drivers of all ages and help cut carbon emissions.
"It can make insurance
more affordable for a person and it's safer for them because they change their behaviour to save money.
"So
when they do go out and have a drink they don't drive.
Britain's Norwich Union Insurance began offering
pay-as-you-drive insurance in 2003, basing premium prices on odometer readings.
Source: theage.com
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