Honda and Acura have released a new app-based feature that scores users on their driving patterns. Not everyone will enjoy being graded each time they get behind the wheel, but Honda claims the scores can make drivers eligible for car insurance discounts. Plus, the program may make you a safer, more fuel-efficient driver.
Powered by Verisk Analytics, the feature draws upon insurance industry loss data to recommend changes in driving behavior. Drivers are scored on five criteria, two of which include smooth acceleration/braking and driving speed. Another category looks at consistent commuting, as drivers who regularly commute at the same time are less likely to experience a collision. A fourth criterion factors in the times of day that driving occurs, encouraging drivers to minimize risky night or early morning hours behind the wheel. Finally, the feature considers the overall driving time and the duration of each trip, with the amount of time spent in the driver’s seat correlating to a greater likelihood of a crash. Here’s a sobering stat: According to Verisk, the lowest-scoring drivers are seven times more likely to be involved in a crash or have an insurance claim compared to drivers with the highest scores.
The Driver Feedback program is available to owners of select Honda and Acura models (see a list of all eligible vehicles below). You’ll need to enroll in the AcuraLink or HondaLink connected-vehicle applications, which also allows you to see your scores on your smartphone. Honda stresses that participation in the program is optional, and it doesn’t give out your vehicle or personal information to third parties without the permission of the subscriber.
Perhaps the best part of the program? Drivers may be eligible for insurance discounts depending on their scores. If you’re lucky enough to get one of the higher scores, you may receive an offer for a certain discount. The insurance discount offers will be available in 42 states at launch, with unfortunate exceptions including California, Florida, and New York.
