Usage Of Vehicle GPS Tracking Devices

GPS Tracking in Vehicle

GPS devices sometimes referred to as “telematics” or “monitoring devices,” are types of tracking for vehicles. The devices come in small external units that plug into the diagnostics port of your car or truck. Some say that GPS trackers reduce motor vehicle accidents because they encourage safer driving. Parents often agree to place GPS units in vehicles of teen drivers to encourage safety and monitor location. However, not all drivers are required to install these types of devices. If you had one in your car, could it improve your driving?

Rules of the Road

Driving a vehicle according to the rules of the road, following state, federal laws and posted guidelines should be automatic. Doing the right thing, even when nobody is watching, is a sign of integrity and personal responsibility. The problem is that there are drivers on the road every day that fail to acknowledge safety guidelines and choose to push limits. A GPS tracker could curb risky driving behavior for everyone. As a result, car accidents, injuries, and driver fatalities could be reduced.

Driving Behaviors GPS Trackers May Prevent

• driving too fast for weather conditions
• general speeding
• driving under the influence
• distracted driving
• tailgating
• heaving braking
• changing lanes quickly

GPS Watching Driving Behavior?

In the world we drive today, there is always someone watching. After all, a GPS unit watching your driving habits is real-time. We’re not talking about the in-car GPS for road trips and daily commutes. Subsequently, some companies have mobile apps that can do similar functions. However, the GPS devices we’re referring to actually record your driving habits. The tracking is designed to measure, then relay, the real-time data to a designated source. It could be a parent analyzing your data, an insurance company or employer. Data measured can include not just mileage, but also how quickly a driver may accelerate, brake, speed limit of driving, and the smoothness of your motions in general.

Car Insurance Companies and GPS Usage

Commercial drivers are probably more familiar with it than others. Some companies such as Allstate, Progressive, Safeco, State Farm, and Nationwide already offer incentives to save money on auto insurance by agreeing to the temporary GPS tracking units on your vehicle. Drivers who agree to this kind of tracking could benefit from some sort of premium discount if the results come back positive.  For some, it may feel strange to have the insurance company watch every move you make. Yet others don’t seem to be bothered by it, as long as they can save some money on their car insurance premiums.

At Action Law Offices, we often talk about fighting insurance companies in personal injury cases. These companies are in the business to make money, they don’t intend to pay fair compensation for the wrongly injured, and they would find pleasure in tracking your every move… if they could.  As of now, the GPS tracking programs insurance companies use is voluntary.

GPS Tracking For Teens

According to the CDC, the number one cause of death for teens 12-19 years of age is accidents. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading type of accident to claim teen lives, accounting for a third of all deaths. These are statistics are terrifying. The ability for parents to receive driving reports for their teen drivers becomes even more appealing after hearing these statistics. Many pro-active parents have started using GPS tracking devices on the vehicles of their teen drivers. This could do a couple of things: If it’s true that GPS tracking devices makes one more aware of their driving habits, then this could be a deterrent for reckless or distracted driving. Subsequently, it provides a record of the physical where-about to know where your child is at all times.  GPS units for purchase can easily be found in many big-box stores including Amazon which has several highly rated units with premium features.

Action Law Offices

Action Law Offices is a reputable personal injury law firm in the Metro-Milwaukee area. Furthermore, we’re local bankruptcy attorneys with a long track record of success. We represent innocent folks who have been wrongly injured in any type of accident. This article is not intended for legal advice or representation of your accident case. If you or a family member has been hurt in an accident, contact us. Simply fill out the safe & secure online form to request a free case evaluation with an accident attorney at one of our offices.