I use the Drive Safe app for the large discount it gives me, but now it feels like they’re pushing me to drive dangerously. According to the app, I brake too hard, though I don’t speed or use my phone much. I keep a safe distance between cars and increase space if someone’s tailgating. But I get dinged for ‘incidents’ mostly at intersections where the light changes while I’m driving 40mph. Should I risk running a red light just to get a better score? Is that really safe? Or is State Farm just making things worse with their system? How can I improve without putting myself and others at risk?
It sounds like the issue might be the timing of yellow and red lights where you are. Some cities shorten yellow lights at intersections with red light cameras to catch more drivers running the red. I know of a city that got caught doing this, raising revenue but also causing accidents because of it. Maybe the app isn’t built for your area, and that’s why it’s giving you problems. Why keep using it if it doesn’t fit with your driving habits?
@Jamie
In a case that made national news, a city actually signed a contract that prevented them from increasing yellow light duration to 5 seconds, just to make sure more people ran red lights and generated more revenue. The cameras aren’t about safety, they’re about making money.
@Jamie
There aren’t any red light cameras where I am, but I think they’d help because I see a lot of people running red lights. Just the other day, someone ran a red light right in front of a cop. It’s like they don’t care anymore. State Farm’s program might get canceled eventually if it doesn’t actually change driving habits.
@Wynne
I also think State Farm should explain the discount better. They don’t tell you how much your driving improved for the discount you get, or how to improve if you’re not getting a good discount. Some transparency would help.
@Wynne
Edit: Just realized the yellow light duration can vary depending on how fast you’re going and how wide the intersection is. This is why timing is so tricky. I think adding a line on the road showing when to stop would help. It’s annoying to have to guess every time.
I work in insurance and would never use one of those monitoring apps. It’s too stressful. Even if you drive safely, your rate might still go up because of where you live. The insurance company still takes everything into account, not just your driving.
@Eli
State Farm’s program just gives a discount on your premium, but they still use the usual underwriting model. If you drive safely, you get a discount, but if not, you just pay more.
@Eli
I get the discount because I don’t drive much, and honestly, I don’t mind being monitored that much since it’s a big discount. I also think driving less is the safest option.
Wynne said:
@Eli
I get the discount because I don’t drive much, and honestly, I don’t mind being monitored that much since it’s a big discount. I also think driving less is the safest option.
How long have you been using the app? I’ve heard people say their premiums go back up when the policy renews.
@Eli
I’ve been using it for a little over a year now, and my premium hasn’t gone up yet.
In my area, being in the intersection when the light turns red is treated like running the red light. A lot of people just speed up to avoid it.
If you don’t run the yellow, you shouldn’t need to brake hard. People will usually give you space if you aren’t tailgating. Did I miss something?
Beck said:
If you don’t run the yellow, you shouldn’t need to brake hard. People will usually give you space if you aren’t tailgating. Did I miss something?
You’re missing the fact that yellow lights can be tricky, and sometimes you have no choice but to slow down hard to stop safely.
@Wynne
Oh, I see. So, you just don’t have time to slow down. That makes sense.
If you think driving dangerously will get you a better discount, you’re going to regret it. It’s your choice to keep using the app, but it’s also your choice to drive safely. I tried Progressive’s app for a week, but it was too stressful for me.
@Gray
The app doesn’t even stay open when I’m driving. I just check it later to see my scores. Was Progressive’s app open while driving?
Wynne said:
@Gray
The app doesn’t even stay open when I’m driving. I just check it later to see my scores. Was Progressive’s app open while driving?
It doesn’t matter if the app is open or not. It still affects how you drive, especially when you’re checking it constantly.
State Farm’s system is probably just averaging out your driving habits, and you’re probably just driving on roads that are more prone to accidents. If they’re encouraging you to run red lights to improve your score, they need to fix that.