Road Safety Week: Maybe Retrofitting Tech to Older Vehicles Can Help?

Some interesting thoughts here from Sarah Vaughan;

With Road Safety Week underway and a national spotlight on in vehicle safety, Angelica Solutions urges the industry to recognise the often overlooked opportunity that telematics insurance presents particularly for those driving older vehicles.

Sarah Vaughan, Founder and Director at Angelica Solutions, comments:

“Much of the focus around vehicle safety naturally centres on the latest models, new cars with advanced built in safety features. But the reality is that many of the highest risk drivers, particularly young and newly qualified motorists are driving older, lower spec vehicles.

“Telematics insurance policies can change that. In many ways, it can offer a retrofit version of in-vehicle safety. By fitting a black box or adopting some of the app-based insurance offerings, drivers can access a suite of digital tools that monitor driving behaviour and highlight risky habits, harsh braking, sharp cornering, speeding, distraction. More importantly, these tools create a feedback loop where insurers can intervene and encourage safer driving.

“Earlier this year we worked with Howden Driving Data which showed the impact that telematics policies can have. Data from black boxes installed under these schemes clearly shows the ability to flag high-risk driving patterns in real time. This offers insurers a uniquely influential position to not just to price risk but to actively reduce it.

“We talk a lot about insurers having the opportunity to be more than just underwriters and this is a prime example. Telematics enables insurers to become partners in prevention.  And when you consider the road safety benefits not only to the individual but to every other road user they encounter, the ripple effect is profound.”

“Our own analysis earlier this year also highlighted critical risks such as elevated crash likelihoods near major airports in the UK and the 80% higher fatality risk in dark conditions.

“If we’re serious about reducing road deaths and injuries, then we need to recognise that safety isn’t just about the car, it’s about the driver and the systems and technology we wrap around the driver. Telematics is one of the few areas where insurers can take real credit where commercial models and public good align”.