Telemetric “black boxes”

Now, I’ve got nothing against these devices. But many people have. Why would I not want a gadget discouraging road users from driving unsafely? They’ll help keep others from crashing into me, maiming of killing me and my family or friends.

Perhaps they don’t like someone critiquing how they drive. An invasion of privacy. Like an uninvited passenger telling you when to change gear.

But it doesn’t tell. And it’s very crude in what it records. And if you want an insurer to take a risk on you (and, along with betting shops and casinos) that’s precisely their business), they have a particular desire to know how safe you are.

If you don’t want their machine in your car, telling them that, you’re an unknown quantity to them so they’ll have to charge you more.

Exactly like when driving, if you can’t see if there’s a risk, you must assume it’s risky ... otherwise the hazard will sometimes “win”, with you crashing. You might then be unable to keep going or make other journeys you’d like to.

Same as the insurance company needing to always “win” by getting more money in than it pays out, so it’s there to provide for the next person who needs insurance.

So, tell me, why do people feel it’s right to display a sticker at the back of their car, apologising for driving slowly because they've got a black box?

Any following driver who expects different is complicit in forcing them to drive illegally.

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