Update: I'll give it a couple days but this thing is going back to Progressive.

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
08/23/2019 at 20:30 • Filed to: None

This thing scares me. It actively discourages you from using the brakes. If you try to decelerate without planning 15 seconds ahead it will go off. Stop for that light that just turned yellow? It goes off. Lift in 2nd on level ground? It goes off. It genuinely scares the shit out of me that we are sharing the road with people playing this thing’s game. $20 a month is not worth the AWFUL habits this thing will teach you over 6 months. Brakes are a key element of safely operating a vehicle and anything that discourages you from using them is beyond bad. Any use of the brakes as the maneuvering tool and safety device they are is counted against you by this thing.

DISCUSSION (66)

CB > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 17:31

Something a little more subtle would be nice.

HammerheadFistpunch > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 17:33

Now be good! I don’t want to have to come over there.

Kinja'd!!!

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > CB
08/23/2019 at 17:33

I’m really surprised they actually paid to custom make this instead of it just being a black box with an OBD2 connector.

Spanfeller is a twat > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 17:34

What sort of data does that thing capture? Also... how much does your insurance go down with it?

CB > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 17:35

Looks like a Happy Meal Toy as the end result.

wafflesnfalafel > HammerheadFistpunch
08/23/2019 at 17:44

F lo knows every where you go and everything you say... you can’t lie to F lo.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Spanfeller is a twat
08/23/2019 at 17:45

Vehicle mileage (so it can tell if you unplug it) and deceleration speed. It dropped my rate 10% off the bat and up to an additional 10% after 6 months at which point I send it back and lock in the rate.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > CB
08/23/2019 at 17:50

Feels like one too.

Spanfeller is a twat > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 17:51

So just six months of non-hooning?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Spanfeller is a twat
08/23/2019 at 17:53

6 months of momentum hooning. It only cares if you slam on the brakes.

Spanfeller is a twat > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 17:56

Fast up the canyon roads, slowly down....

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 17:57

We tried one of those but there were lots of bad drivers where we were in Nevada and it beeped constantly. I sent it back never got any discount.

smobgirl > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 18:09

My sister works for Progressive. Apparently they refer to those as the creepy beepy.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > smobgirl
08/23/2019 at 18:16

Sounds about right. If it saves me $20 a month I’m fine with putting up with it for 6 months.

Kiltedpadre > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 18:38

I tried to use one and it never did work properly. They actually sent a replacement thinking I’d gotten a bum unit. Then they sent a replacement for the replacement. In the end they gave up and decided it just didn’t work in my truck for some reason.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 18:44

That’s way less than what companies around here do - i n Ontario insurers take a look at acceleration, braking, speed, mileage, and distracted driving and require you to download an app to your phone. No OBD, only uses the phone GPS and other sensor data.

Unless they’re going to save me 100% of my premium by collecting all that data, they can go fuck themselves.

zipfuel > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 18:46

Does it come with lube for insertion?

I truly hate the idea of these things, the concept of my behavior being monitored by a corporation in exchange for a cookie is grim.

Now i say that I should probably adblock google

Urambo Tauro > Kiltedpadre
08/23/2019 at 20:09

That’s weird. What kind of truck was that, again ?

Urambo Tauro > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 20:12

Do those link to your phone to let you view info, or do they just transmit directly to the insurance company?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Urambo Tauro
08/23/2019 at 20:29

It transmits directly to progressive but you can view the data with an app.

For Sweden > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 20:43

There’s nothing P rogressive about braking. Braking is reactionary.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 20:48

If they can’t raise your rates because of it then who cares? Muffle/disconnect the speaker?

chaozbandit > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 20:49

Ive done this before with my insurance. Granted the things they tracked were vague, more along the lines of abrupt accel/deccel and driving during TOD. Between two cars (one aggressive daily, one occassional family car) the difference was only 2% and both were single digit percentages.

But yeah six months on the day, boxed it and sent it back.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 20:50

Yeah I asked about how that device works if I decide to do autocross or a track day and got told I shouldn’t do those if I wanted the discount. I sent mine back without even plugging it in.

I hated to be tinfoil hat-y but if it can't tell the difference between a legitimate event and 2am drunk driving then it probably shouldn't be on the market yet.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
08/23/2019 at 20:57

They can raise my rates. I’m 10% off my base rate for trying it and after 6 months there is potential to get another 10%. Or after 6 months they can decide that I am not worthy of the safe driver discount (eliminating the 10% I got for trying it) and then use the data from the device to adjust the base rate up to an unspecified percentage. So there is potential for this thing to force me into horrible habits over 6 months trying to play it’s game and then have my rate jacked up. Or I can send it back now, give up my 10% discount, and lock in my current base rate. All without developing the nasty habits of avoiding using the brakes.

fintail > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 20:59

I wouldn’t do this if it gave me free insurance.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/23/2019 at 21:01

To be fair to the device it can’t tell if that parking lot you are in is closed for an autocross and if you drive like an autocross in a normal parking lot you aren’t a safe driver.

The timing on this worked such that it would have been coming out about a month before the first autocross of 2020 which sounded like the right time to wait before sending it in a brand new car but if it is going to try to teach these kinds of habits its going away and I’m defending my Ice Time Trial championship.

Chariotoflove > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:02

So, are you saying this Progressive device is disrupting the Flo of your driving?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > chaozbandit
08/23/2019 at 21:03

This one tracks decel and if you drive in the middle of the night. It’s just so aggressive about dinging you for decel that it is going to ingrain some awful habits.

LongbowMkII > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:06

These are absolutely awful

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:07

Might be time to look for a new insurer.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Snuze: Needs another Swede
08/23/2019 at 21:09

I’ve only had them for a week and even without the doodad discount they are still the cheapest option for me.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:11

A buddy of mine tried it, ended up getting higher rates, even tho they promised hat could not happen.

He called threatened to leave and they put his rate back.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:11

I would hate to see the results of using this why delivering pizza

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/23/2019 at 21:12

When you read the agreement it clearly states that your rates can go up as a result of using the doodad.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:13

Ohh, gotcha. I didnt realize you switched. In that case, carry on. And at least its not State Farm.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:14

I should try one of these. In one of my cars. Because over a six month period I’ll be on two wheels for five and a half months. I can be “nice” two days a month.

Maybe...

On second thought... Maybe I can't.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Snuze: Needs another Swede
08/23/2019 at 21:27

I had to switch when I bought the Corolla. The Corolla is the first car in my name and my parents insurance was rather annoyed that I moved from MA to VT. They were actually going to stop covering me at the end of August.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/23/2019 at 21:27

Just don’t decelerate while you are in 2 wheels and you will be fine.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/23/2019 at 21:28

I’m going to guess a 30% rate increase.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > LongbowMkII
08/23/2019 at 21:30

I figured why not give it a shot and see if playing it’s game for 6 months would get me a nice rate. I didn’t realize that it’s game teaches you genuinely dangerous driving habits.

NKato > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:33

If an insurance agent told me to install this in my car, I’d fastball it into the nearest garbage can. Followed by a lecture of why this device is actually more unsafe by encouraging bad driving habits.

And I’d tell them, if I got in an accident because of the Creeper Beeper being in a driver’s vehicle , I would dump my entire life savings into suing Progressive for making the roads unsafe and by extension, enabling conditions that led to the accident.

Kiltedpadre > Urambo Tauro
08/23/2019 at 21:38

I have a 2006 Silverado.

chaozbandit > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:38

I did mine a year after I got my full license, after the six months I went back to how I was driving prior. I don’t think mine was very aggressive on decc el though but I was never a hard breaker to begin with.

wafflesnfalafel > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:45

400-500%.... rates for food delivery vehicles are insane...

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > wafflesnfalafel
08/23/2019 at 21:47

I was assuming you had already informed Progressive you are using it as a delivery vehicle.

Urambo Tauro > Kiltedpadre
08/23/2019 at 21:48

Huh. I have no idea then.

E92M3 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 21:59

I know a lady that used one thinking it would s ave her money, but they ended up raising her rates. They said she drove more miles than the average American (12k miles a year). She took a road trip from Atlanta to Virginia the few weeks she had it which affected her average . You’d think they were smart enough to see the data and realize it was a long trip, n ot a long daily c ommute pattern.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 22:00

Interesting. He had an email stating otherwise.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 22:06

That makes sense. The between the conditions and frequency it’s used the chances it’ll get into an accident are way higher than a typical vehicle.

In fact the car I drove everyday was pushing into a loading dock by a semi. Crushed the whole dang car. Worst part is the hatch doesn’t open now.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 22:10

Ah, gotcha. I started with State Farm, which is who my parents used. Initially they* were great and had a deal where I got my parents discounts (multi-vehicle, home owner, etc.). They were so cheap, no one could touch them. Then I had some payment issues with them, namely I missed a payment (my fault) but they never followed up or tried to do anythint and instead dropped my policy outright and then called the state to tell them i lapsed, and in turn the state fined me $1,000. Now I used USAA and couldn’t be happier.

*State Farm still uses independent agents. My first agent was awesome when I was in CT . My second one when I transferred to Virginia was average. The third one, who I used after I moved back to Maryland, was shit. I had numerous issues with them screwing things up (not taking vehicles off my policy, trying to charge me for my parents vehicles, etc) before the $1k fine issue.

TheRealBicycleBuck > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 22:18

I have something similar on my phone.

Kinja'd!!!

I don’t have all the alerts enabled, but I assume this is picking out speeding “incidents” on this trip. It also can’t tell if I’m on the road or in a plane. ;)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 22:25

I get that, but the fact that even if given a month’s notice, the people at progressive can’t verify that yes, on this date, during these times, in this location, the car will be subj ected to those forces in a safe manner and should be excluded from recording is baffling to me.

I think I can state my tinfoil hat argument a bit better - devices like these seem designed to make us drive like robots.....at all times. Even when we don’t want to be robots. It punishes those who like to drive, for the sake of those who don’t care enough to drive safely.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/23/2019 at 22:54

Insurance companies have been known to cancel coverage when they discover you autocross your cars. I don't think I would be seeking permission from them.

Captain of the Enterprise > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 22:57

You don’t have to use it at all with Progressive. I’m not going to when I switch next month. I hate it.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 23:10

I’ve heard that they’re all awful and that only really bad drivers can acquire discounts with them. In theory, your rates won’t go up from using them, though.

I’m sure just the stiff suspension on my car would result in one going off, and I’m a pretty conservative driver. My turns would also likely trip them out, even though they’re totally safe. My driving limit is 7/10ths on the road and typical is 1/10th or less.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Captain of the Enterprise
08/23/2019 at 23:11

It’s going back to Progressive next week. I thought I would give it a shot to get the lower rate but it’s simply dangerously restrictive.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
08/23/2019 at 23:12

There’s no accelerometers in them, they pull speed data from the OBD2 port so the suspension will have no effect on them.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 23:18

... I wonder. Momentum hooning is the only fun thing in my car, so that’s all I do.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 23:22

Weird. I wonder how hard braking needs to be to set it off.

Considering the shit drivers here, it’d never work for me, though. I probably brake slam at least once a day when I drive and some idiot pulls out in front of me way too close. Nobody is even slightly considerate of others on the road here; it’s all about them.

average user > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 23:39

I refuse to use anything of that sort. It is basically a surveillance device.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/23/2019 at 23:48

Oh I definitely wouldn’t use it on a bike!

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/24/2019 at 00:07

That is the only offer like this I have seen, where they promise to not raise rates. Not saying that’s all that’s out there

TrickJos > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/24/2019 at 05:13

I put one in my Camaro over the winter once. I hardly drive it in the winter and at the time the device didn’t make any noises. So, it didn’t really bother me. My wife tried one more recently. It lasted about a day before sh e ripped it out and threw it on the floor. lol

SiennaMan > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/24/2019 at 07:37

I guess the idea with the brakes is that if you need to use them hard you're going too fast? So Progressive wants you to putter along in the right lane with your blinkers on going 45 in a 70?

bubblestheturtle > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/25/2019 at 11:18

What?! You don’t want a small (possible) discount to have another aspect of your life tracked and sold? You so silly.