Black box insurance could help you be a better driver. Not only will you get useful hints on how to improve your telematics score, you’ll also be given detailed breakdowns of your best and worst driving traits. This tells you what to work on in order to try and improve your Driving Score and earn a personalised premium, all of which could potentially save you money.
1. The sharpness of your braking
Every once in a while, most drivers have to brake sharply to avoid a hazard, like a car pulling out unexpectedly. However, if you're frequently braking sharply, it could indicate that you're not paying enough attention when driving. If sharp braking rarely happens, you’ll average out any of those anomalies without affecting your score too much.
2. The speed of your acceleration
Drivers need to get out of a junction quickly sometimes, and that’s OK. However, if you’re accelerating harshly on most of your journeys, it may mean you’re not driving as safely as you could be. If you would normally accelerate gradually and harsh acceleration is rare, your driver score will not be dramatically affected.
3. Your speed
Road users should always drive below the speed limit of the road they’re on. After all, it’s a limit - not a target. Whilst we know that you can’t look at your speedometer all the time, it’s a good idea to check it regularly. Certain road conditions can cause your speed to change, and you may not realise. For example, driving downhill can make your car speed up, even if you’re not touching the accelerator.
If you break the speed limit often, it’s likely to cause your score to drop and your premium to rise. Try not to make a habit of it, as regular speeding could even mean your policy gets cancelled. Don’t worry, we will let you know when your speed has gone above the safe level to make sure you’re aware. If your box detects an extreme speeding event though, your cover could be cancelled straightaway – so, always keep an eye on your speed.
4. The time of day you are driving
Driving at night may mean that you’re more tired than you would be earlier in the day. Not only that, it’s also harder to see what’s happening around you on dimly lit roads. All things considered, if you drive at night regularly, you could be more at risk of being involved in an incident. That said, as long as you continue driving safely, the occasional night-time trip won’t have a huge effect on your score.
If you want to earn a more personalised premium, telematics insurance might be for you! Drive well, and your premium could go down. Drive poorly, and it may go up.
Correct at the time of publication. Information in this article has been gathered from various sources, therefore WiseDriving cannot be held responsible for any view or opinion expressed herein.
