In the near future, driving will be incredibly different than it is today. What was once seemingly improbable is now reality. Autonomous cars are in the news daily, telematics has become a widely accepted means of lowering your insurance fees, and automotive technology has never been more important when considering buying a new vehicle. At isure, we feel it is important to keep up on all the trends. Which is why we want to provide our clients with insurance that evolves as the future of driving becomes the present.
Future of driving: Telematics
Do you feel like a safe driver, but it’s not showing up on your driving record? Telematics, also known as Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) and pay per use insurance, may be the answer. It combines leading-edge wireless communications and Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking technology to collect and analyze data from moving vehicles. Telematics car insurance puts the power of the best car insurance rates in your control! This amazing technology can help you save money on your auto insurance premiums. In addition, it gives you helpful, personalized feedback on how to make you an even safer driver. However, not all Ontario insurers offer UBI. Speak with an isure broker today in order to learn about the best telematics program for you.
Telematics and connectivity
There’s no denying the convenience of having a navigation system in your vehicle, whether it’s smartphone-based or built into your radio:
- Onboard vehicle navigation systems have become a very popular option for many vehicles, including lower-priced, entry-level units. Built into factory infotainment systems, they provide turn-by-turn navigation with verbal reminders. Some of the more advanced units can allow you to take the most fuel-efficient way to your destination or to avoid construction.
- With the nearly instant popularity of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, smartphone-connected radios have revolutionized navigation in Ontario vehicles. Smartphones already provide a great source of information about our roads. However, you can couple it with navigation apps, such as Google Maps, Waze or MapQuest (to name a few), to see which is the best route to take. They offer you access to a more up-to-date picture of traffic conditions. This information is garnered through connectivity. Your phone tracks your location, and feeds that info back to the server as you drive. In real-time, the server processes that information to deliver a ‘live’ look at the roads around you. In the near future, this will allow cars to talk to each other and help you and your car be safer, faster and more reactive to road changes.
Automation
Autonomous cars have been on the wish list for anyone that commutes, drives or just needs to get somewhere. This technology is here to stay, with companies like Tesla, BMW, Toyota, GM, Volvo, and Nissan all part of the race to see fully-driverless vehicles on the road in just a few short years from now. While these vehicles aren’t yet available in Canada, the Ontario government has now given manufacturers and researchers the green light to begin testing them on public roads without anyone in the driver’s seat. As the technology improves, vehicles will roll out with less need for driver interaction. The Ontario government’s 10-year pilot program will explore the financial, social and environmental impacts of autonomous vehicles.
Cars and trucks that drive themselves can expect to start hitting the road within the next decade. This can translate into a savings of $65 billion to Canadian drivers! Fewer collisions, reduced traffic congestion, lower fuel costs and less time wasted behind the wheel contributes to this savings windfall. Only time will tell how autonomous cars will affect the way we drive. Keep checking in to the isure website for the latest updates on self-driving cars and the effect of them on your insurance.
Automotive Technology
When it comes to today’s SUVs, cars, trucks, and minivans, electronic tech features are hugely important. These items are now an integral part of how you interact with your vehicle, as well as how your vehicle interacts with the cars around it on the road. These features range from safety and security measures, to communication and connectivity features. We’ve included Kelley Blue Book’s list of the best automotive technologies to look for when buying a new car.
Technology that matters most
These are the features you should look for if you are interested in safety, parking assist, improved driving visibility, or tech that simply helps you stay connected to friends and family:
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): From blind spot alerts to forward collision warnings, ADAS are regularly bundled with newer vehicles. Many automakers sell them as standalone options or include them as part of specific trim levels.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): When the car senses that a collision is imminent, AEB activates your car’s brakes, potentially avoiding or minimizing an accident.
Connected mobile apps/digital key: Some car companies have designed an app that you can download for your car that will allow you to you remotely lock and unlock the doors, check the status of fuel and tire pressure, and even remotely start the car.
Teen driver tech: This is a bundle of tech features that are aimed squarely at parents with younger drivers in the house. Depending on the automaker, they may offer information regarding speed, seatbelts use, and volume settings. Some manufacturers also allow for set up of ‘do not disturb’ for smartphones, curfew alerts, car finder capabilities, as well as time of day and location information.
Emergency services/stolen vehicle tracking software: If your vehicle is equipped with one of these systems, it makes it a lot easier for law enforcement to find it. Not only can they find it faster, but it can potentially reduce the damage done to your car. These systems can also help get rescue services to you after a crash has happened by pinpointing a vehicle’s exact location.
Other features to consider:
- Safe Exit Assist to protect cyclists
- Wireless Smartphone connectivity and charging
- Dashboard cameras
- Blind-spot view monitor
- Video rearview mirror
At the end of the day, you need an insurance broker that is keeping up with the rapid changes in driving. Whether you have questions about telematics, or simply need a new insurance policy, make sure to contact isure today!
