Driver data enables telematics insurer to communicate with persistent speeders
While there has been a considerable drop in the number of drivers on UK roads, insurethebox, the UK’s telematics insurance pioneer, recorded a 24% increase in speeding propensity between February and March. As a result, the firm has sustained its award-winning pro-active communication strategy with persistent speeders, with a very clear message that speeding increases the risk of emergency workers being diverted from the crucial job of caring for those suffering from COVID-19.
With the UK in its second month of active lockdown measures, government enforced restrictions are resulting in fewer cars on the roads. But this seems to have also resulted in more drivers slipping over the speed limit.
As well as there being a 24% increase in speeding propensity amongst insurethebox policyholders in March compared to February, the Easter weekend also saw a spike with a 57%ii increase in speeding propensity compared to the same period in 2019.
Gary Stewart, Service Manager at insurethebox, said: “While the majority of drivers have parked their vehicles and remain at home, we have seen an unfortunate trend. The clear roads seem to have resulted in a greater propensity to speed amongst those still needing to drive. We have, therefore, been reaching out to drivers we have seen break the speed limit with personal messages, asking them to join us in supporting the emergency services by not adding any extra strain to their jobs.”
This messaging is in line with one of insurethebox’s principles of operation – active customer contact. Tackling the risks of speeding, especially amongst young and inexperienced drivers, insurethebox runs an on-going communication programme contacting motorists who demonstrate high risk behaviour. In the past four years, this speed reduction programme has seen some 120,000 drivers reduce their speed by 21%, resulting in a 7% reduction in accident frequency [iii] It estimates 1060 accidents have been avoided, with 34 serious injuries prevented in this time [iv].
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Notes to Editors
insurethebox
Insure The Box Limited launched in June 2010 with its first product, insurethebox, and now holds over 5 billion miles of driving data and associated claims. As well as insurethebox and drive like a girl (another Insure The Box brand) it also administers other telematics offerings. Insurethebox is owned by Aioi Nissay Dowa Europe Limited, part of the major Japanese insurance group MS&AD Holdings, Inc. The group is taking a leading role in the development of technologies that will change the face of motor insurance and the way we view the car.
[i] Analysis of driving data of Insure The Box Limited policyholders between 1st Feb-31st March 2020 [ii] Analysis of driving data of Insure The Box Limited policyholders between 12th-15th April 2019 and 9th-13th April 2020
[iii] Analysis of 120,000 customers in the communication programme since 2016. “Speeding” is defined as exceeding the speed limit significantly (customers are not penalised for driving 31mph on 30mph road), counted as speeding instances per mile where an instance is captured every 5 seconds.
[iv] Prevented accidents calculated based on the decreased accident frequency of 82,000 customers who have been in the programme for at least 6 months.