Black box - driver rating
Discussion
Only on PH can we have posters regularly saying that there needs to be more done to improve the standard of driving amongst young people who are only concerned with taking the best selfie at 90mph whilst surfing Facebook in their s
t-box Citroen Saxo, but also denigrate a practical, low cost solution to the problem which has been proven to have a positive impact on the driving behaviours of these same young people..
t-box Citroen Saxo, but also denigrate a practical, low cost solution to the problem which has been proven to have a positive impact on the driving behaviours of these same young people.. No.1 son has a Directline black box plugged into the OBD port in the car, fair enough it's brought his insurance down by 25% for his first year of driving (Test on Monday !), but I really can't fathom out the scoring that is available on line. It scores down for 'driving on roads with higher than normal risk of an accident' but there is no where to find out which road it is. After 8pm it scores you down and I've been able to find out what time it considers 'late'.
I drove, at the weekend, to a local town, 5 miles away. I took the same route there and back and did the same speeds. It scored me down going one way too fast and driving on roads with higher risk, but not the other way - on the same road and same speed! AARRRGGHH
I doubt very much it'll be getting renewed . . .
I drove, at the weekend, to a local town, 5 miles away. I took the same route there and back and did the same speeds. It scored me down going one way too fast and driving on roads with higher risk, but not the other way - on the same road and same speed! AARRRGGHH
I doubt very much it'll be getting renewed . . .
Shakermaker said:
Only on PH can we have posters regularly saying that there needs to be more done to improve the standard of driving amongst young people who are only concerned with taking the best selfie at 90mph whilst surfing Facebook in their st-box Citroen Saxo, but also denigrate a practical, low cost solution to the problem which has been proven to have a positive impact on the driving behaviours of these same young people..
t-box Citroen Saxo, but also denigrate a practical, low cost solution to the problem which has been proven to have a positive impact on the driving behaviours of these same young people.. 
AREA said:
Personally
I look at her journey details online every day. If she's scored below 100% we talk about it to understand what was going on so she can learn and improve. She welcomes that.
That makes me a little bit sad reading that.I look at her journey details online every day. If she's scored below 100% we talk about it to understand what was going on so she can learn and improve. She welcomes that.
I'm all for the idea, but it also squeezes ALL the fun out of what is in my eyes one of the most enjoyable things you can do.
Surely the Scandinavian way of learning/training assessing answers virtually every problem we have here in the UK?
chopper602 said:
I drove, at the weekend, to a local town, 5 miles away. I took the same route there and back and did the same speeds. It scored me down going one way too fast and driving on roads with higher risk, but not the other way - on the same road and same speed! AARRRGGHH
I posted in another thread that my other son was driving the car and his regular route took him on a B road that was 20 yards from and parallel to the M4. According to the black box he racked up 20% Motorway driving that month and earned the applicable bonus miles without ever driving on a motorway...oldbanger said:
I've been quite interested in the scoring system. The system is rating me down quite a bit for driving around 6pm and admonishing me for driving late at night when I could be prone to fatigue. It's not even dark!
If it marks you down, it would shoot me down...Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
chopper602 said:
No.1 son has a Directline black box plugged into the OBD port in the car, fair enough it's brought his insurance down by 25% for his first year of driving (Test on Monday !), but I really can't fathom out the scoring that is available on line. It scores down for 'driving on roads with higher than normal risk of an accident' but there is no where to find out which road it is. After 8pm it scores you down and I've been able to find out what time it considers 'late'.
I drove, at the weekend, to a local town, 5 miles away. I took the same route there and back and did the same speeds. It scored me down going one way too fast and driving on roads with higher risk, but not the other way - on the same road and same speed! AARRRGGHH
I doubt very much it'll be getting renewed . . .
Yes I have the same kit. It doesn't like the Birmingham ring road, at all, but actually this isn't too bad for accidents according to the latest DfT data. I got red rated for driving through sleepy Hatton village at 7:30 pm the other day too - though this was for driving too late in the day.I drove, at the weekend, to a local town, 5 miles away. I took the same route there and back and did the same speeds. It scored me down going one way too fast and driving on roads with higher risk, but not the other way - on the same road and same speed! AARRRGGHH
I doubt very much it'll be getting renewed . . .
I am still tempted to drive in circles around Small Heath during rush hour to see if it goes pop or something. I would be tempted to also go a little too fast, but that's never going to happen round there unless I mount the pavements
Talking about that, having learnt to drive in inner city London, I never ever saw such crazy driving until I came to the West Midlands. Nobody stops for red lights until the traffic is in full flow in the opposing direction. I also regularly see drivers mount the pavement, drive on the wrong side of the road or cross the central reservation to jump traffic queues.
Edited by oldbanger on Thursday 16th March 13:40
AREA said:
Personally I think they are a great idea. My 17 year old daughter has one in her car - this was a condition of her first year's insurance being free (!) and no curfew restrictions or anything like that.
I look at her journey details online every day. If she's scored below 100% we talk about it to understand what was going on so she can learn and improve. She welcomes that.
Hmrph I have just about managed 70% average so far due to my "crazy" commuting habits in and out of Birmingham, plus the high risk rural evening driving I do.I look at her journey details online every day. If she's scored below 100% we talk about it to understand what was going on so she can learn and improve. She welcomes that.
It's also scored me down for pulling onto a dual carriageway from a small side road (not slip road) - for accelerating from a standing start. No Sh*t Sherlock, it not like you can afford to glide out at 5mph like some serene canal boat when the average speed is 40-50ish, you have to match the speed of traffic flow no matter how big a gap there is.
mybrainhurts said:
If it marks you down, it would shoot me down...
Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
Oh ffs!! Are you the target audience? Are you 17-20? Young drivers are high risk. Young drivers driving at night are a higher risk. Fact backed up by stats. The multi million pound injury serious claims are nearly always youngsters coming back at 3am from a night out with their mates in the car. Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
The black box is not compulsory. If you're a "normal" risk driver you probably don't pay that much for insurance anyway, so why have a black box? If you're a young driver whose lifestyle doesn't suit a black box, don't have one. Just pay the higher premium. If you're a young driver that would financially benefit, then get one.
Jesus, it's not rocket surgery! It's giving people a choice. Why the hostility?
I personally think with a lot of these, the interpretation side is still a massive work in progress. I think the aims are very laudible though.
In crash investigation, there's a lot of debate on what scores mean what. The GPS side of things is fairly accurate but as with all these things, it's reliant on GPS signal and everything "snaps" to a line meaning it can get confused if roads are very close.
In crash investigation, there's a lot of debate on what scores mean what. The GPS side of things is fairly accurate but as with all these things, it's reliant on GPS signal and everything "snaps" to a line meaning it can get confused if roads are very close.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
mybrainhurts said:
If it marks you down, it would shoot me down...
Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
Oh ffs!! Are you the target audience? Are you 17-20? Young drivers are high risk. Young drivers driving at night are a higher risk. Fact backed up by stats. The multi million pound injury serious claims are nearly always youngsters coming back at 3am from a night out with their mates in the car. Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
The black box is not compulsory. If you're a "normal" risk driver you probably don't pay that much for insurance anyway, so why have a black box? If you're a young driver whose lifestyle doesn't suit a black box, don't have one. Just pay the higher premium. If you're a young driver that would financially benefit, then get one.
Jesus, it's not rocket surgery! It's giving people a choice. Why the hostility?
I guess I'm guilty of failing to mention the Bleedin' Obvious, that insurers have started with youngsters by conning them about the benefits, but the obvious long term aim is get this crap made compulsory for all drivers.
Better now?
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Oh ffs!! Are you the target audience? Are you 17-20? Young drivers are high risk. Young drivers driving at night are a higher risk. Fact backed up by stats. The multi million pound injury serious claims are nearly always youngsters coming back at 3am from a night out with their mates in the car.
The black box is not compulsory. If you're a "normal" risk driver you probably don't pay that much for insurance anyway, so why have a black box? If you're a young driver whose lifestyle doesn't suit a black box, don't have one. Just pay the higher premium. If you're a young driver that would financially benefit, then get one.
Jesus, it's not rocket surgery! It's giving people a choice. Why the hostility?
It would be interesting to understand how risk has been identified though and whether it's really encouraging safe driving behaviour. I understand the scoring of high risk roads and peak accident times (rush hour), even if I might nit pick over accuracy.The black box is not compulsory. If you're a "normal" risk driver you probably don't pay that much for insurance anyway, so why have a black box? If you're a young driver whose lifestyle doesn't suit a black box, don't have one. Just pay the higher premium. If you're a young driver that would financially benefit, then get one.
Jesus, it's not rocket surgery! It's giving people a choice. Why the hostility?
But why is evening driving so dangerous? Are they equating it with an increased potential for drink driving perhaps?
mybrainhurts said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
mybrainhurts said:
If it marks you down, it would shoot me down...
Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
Oh ffs!! Are you the target audience? Are you 17-20? Young drivers are high risk. Young drivers driving at night are a higher risk. Fact backed up by stats. The multi million pound injury serious claims are nearly always youngsters coming back at 3am from a night out with their mates in the car. Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
The black box is not compulsory. If you're a "normal" risk driver you probably don't pay that much for insurance anyway, so why have a black box? If you're a young driver whose lifestyle doesn't suit a black box, don't have one. Just pay the higher premium. If you're a young driver that would financially benefit, then get one.
Jesus, it's not rocket surgery! It's giving people a choice. Why the hostility?
I guess I'm guilty of failing to mention the Bleedin' Obvious, that insurers have started with youngsters by conning them about the benefits, but the obvious long term aim is get this crap made compulsory for all drivers.
Better now?
But hey ho, please explain to me, Mrs Miggins aged 55 in Suffolk paying £150 comp for her 1.4 eurobox, how does the insurer benefit from her having a black box, fitting it and monitoring it, when she hasn't claims since 1985 when she knocked someone's wing mirror off in the supermarket car park?
And as for conning young drivers about the benefits, actually knocking hundreds of pounds off their premium, how is this a con?
Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Thursday 16th March 14:09
TwigtheWonderkid said:
mybrainhurts said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
mybrainhurts said:
If it marks you down, it would shoot me down...
Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
Oh ffs!! Are you the target audience? Are you 17-20? Young drivers are high risk. Young drivers driving at night are a higher risk. Fact backed up by stats. The multi million pound injury serious claims are nearly always youngsters coming back at 3am from a night out with their mates in the car. Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
The black box is not compulsory. If you're a "normal" risk driver you probably don't pay that much for insurance anyway, so why have a black box? If you're a young driver whose lifestyle doesn't suit a black box, don't have one. Just pay the higher premium. If you're a young driver that would financially benefit, then get one.
Jesus, it's not rocket surgery! It's giving people a choice. Why the hostility?
I guess I'm guilty of failing to mention the Bleedin' Obvious, that insurers have started with youngsters by conning them about the benefits, but the obvious long term aim is get this crap made compulsory for all drivers.
Better now?
But hey ho, please explain to me, Mrs Miggins aged 55 in Suffolk paying £150 comp for her 1.4 eurobox, how does the insurer benefit from her having a black box, fitting it and monitoring it, when she hasn't claims since 1985 when she knocked someone's wing mirror off in the supermarket car park?
Somebody here some years ago was complaining that his son drove sensibly, but was penalised for some dubious reasons.
They only have to build in parameters that will catch a lot of people out to make a lot of money in surprise premium "adjustments".
Cynical? Moi?...YES
mybrainhurts said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
mybrainhurts said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
mybrainhurts said:
If it marks you down, it would shoot me down...
Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
Oh ffs!! Are you the target audience? Are you 17-20? Young drivers are high risk. Young drivers driving at night are a higher risk. Fact backed up by stats. The multi million pound injury serious claims are nearly always youngsters coming back at 3am from a night out with their mates in the car. Much driving through the night, including round trips of up to 500 miles, starting at 02.30.
I sleep for 7 to 8 hours before that, traffic is light in the early hours and light traffic makes it safer.
So why do these morons deem this to be punishable by premium?
The black box is not compulsory. If you're a "normal" risk driver you probably don't pay that much for insurance anyway, so why have a black box? If you're a young driver whose lifestyle doesn't suit a black box, don't have one. Just pay the higher premium. If you're a young driver that would financially benefit, then get one.
Jesus, it's not rocket surgery! It's giving people a choice. Why the hostility?
I guess I'm guilty of failing to mention the Bleedin' Obvious, that insurers have started with youngsters by conning them about the benefits, but the obvious long term aim is get this crap made compulsory for all drivers.
Better now?
But hey ho, please explain to me, Mrs Miggins aged 55 in Suffolk paying £150 comp for her 1.4 eurobox, how does the insurer benefit from her having a black box, fitting it and monitoring it, when she hasn't claims since 1985 when she knocked someone's wing mirror off in the supermarket car park?
Somebody here some years ago was complaining that his son drove sensibly, but was penalised for some dubious reasons.
They only have to build in parameters that will catch a lot of people out to make a lot of money in surprise premium "adjustments".
Cynical? Moi?...YES
Most black box policies do not adjust the premium, but offer discounts off next renewal. My mates daughter got quotes of £2750 no black box, or £1400 with a box. No premium adjustments, no curfew. The threat of cancellation (with full pro rate refund) if driving standards were judged as poor. That's a £1350 up front saving. How is this a con? I wish someone would con me by handing me a £1350 saving.
Really, there's some utter tripe posted on PH, but none more so than on black box threads.
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