Why I Hate Progressive's "Snapshot"

Verizon’s Hum and Progressive’s Snapshot are both little devices you put into your car’s OBD 2 port. Both serve a slightly different purpose, but they are both abominations in their own right. Not only are both horrible for car guys, but both are horrible for anyone who loves freedom and privacy.

What do both do? Part 1: "Snapshot" from Progressive

According to Progressive, the “Snapshot” is a device which measures your actual driving and determines your insurance rate accordingly. First off, none of you business Progressive. Secondly, why do I need to pay more based on how I drive if I don’t get in an accident? Thirdly, this is just your opinion of safe driving, not an objective fact. Maybe I’m such a good driver I don’t need to drive as slow that stereotypical old person in a Buick. You know who you are, and I see you driving under the speed limit!

Actuary: If we invade your privacy we can run the data through our one of a kind statistical algorithm and save you money if it says you are low liability. We’re working on a program to track everything you do to your body including eating and exercise levels to lower your healthcare prices. Isn’t giving up your useless privacy worth it for all this saving$$$$$?

Part 2: "Hum" by Verizon

Some of Hum’s functions are useful, such as check engine light decoding and roadside assistance. However, you can just buy a decoder for your smartphone or an OBD 2 reader, and roadside assistance can be had using your cell phone especially if you have AAA or through Onstar if you drive a modern GM product. The worst part about the Hum is it allows you to set a speed limit for a car, and anyone who uses it. This is fine for keeping the Valet in check, but don’t for one second think it is a good idea to go setting limits for your kid in their car. I’ll get into why this is bad from a parenting perspective and the perspective of a young petrolhead.

Why Both are Bad: Invasion of Privacy and Security RIsk

So you have a device which tracks your every move including speed and location. If this doesn’t make you feel like the government has greater ability to track you, you aren’t too bright my friend. No matter what the terms and conditions say, it does not prevent the government from using this device to track you. It doesn’t have to be the government either, it could also be a hacker who wants to find out about you or control your car remotely. Most importantly, don’t tell me I have nothing to fear if I have nothing to hide. You never know when you will need your privacy, or when the government will no longer be your friend. Say the government decides to throw away democracy, and you want to set things straight again. They will be able to track you down and murder you with ease. Both devices are one step further towards making everything you held once as private, public. Progressive claims the Snapshot does not have gps, but they can still use it to triangulate your location because it uploads straight to Progressive through the vast AT&T wireless network. It’s also just a matter of why do they need to know your every step. I don’t want my insurance rate changing because I decided to do a few handbrake turns in an abandoned parking lot, that’s none of your business, I’m sorry. If all insurance companies ever make these mandatory, I will never put it in, even if it means driving illegally without insurance, I will not accept such tyranny. Let me hoon, or give me death.

Bad Parenting

Nowadays, parents want to control their kids more and more, and never trust them. In any relationship, trust is key, and setting a speed limit for your child’s car is a good way to shake that relationship. It’s also a safety hazard; if you need to accelerate to get onto the highway, and you have a speed limit set on your car, you have to worry constantly about not going over it. This worry, even if one is not close to the limit, makes for a terrible and nervous driver. A good driver operates their automobile by feeling and instinct, not by the speedometer. Do you feel like you are going too fast? Then slow down. If not, stay the course. It can also turn your child into a rebel, who will end up going too far like a Disney kid, hurting themselves or others once they gain freedom. If you don’t let your kid have some privacy and freedom, I doubt they will turn out well. Also, they need to learn how to handle higher speeds, because, in the real world, driving under the speed limit can be more dangerous than driving over it. The previous generation of kids was raised fine without this advancement, so instead of using some piece of tech that would disgust the likes of George Orwell, get a book instead, or read tips online on how to raise a good kid without being a total control freak. Remember, safety isn’t everything, your kid has to learn to live a little, and to learn from little mistakes instead of bigger ones when they go crazy when they are set free.

Summary

So in conclusion, while each device may have noble intentions (at least on the surface), these are devices I would not recommend if you love driving and living free, and in the case of Hum, it is not a good parenting device for a young driver. While adoption of these devices remains low, it scares me to think this could one day become a mandatory practice. I understand how a device could benefit some people’s insurance prices or understanding of their car, I think we would be making a big mistake if they were to become widespread or even mandatory. We live in a society which is becoming both increasingly wussified and authoritarian. Taking away freedom may solve short-term problems like crimes or bad teen drivers, but down the road, it causes even deeper problems such as an authoritarian police state and motorists who are either ill prepared or overly aggressive once they are out of parental control. A society which tries to stop all bad things from occurring is one which is bound to become dull and dysfunctional. #blogpost