Toronto, Ontario — July 16, 2015 — A new property and casualty (P&C) insurer in Canada has just released a report warning that “tempers could flare this season as construction-related delays add to driver frustration.”
The Ingenie Road Rage Report finds summer to be the most infuriating driving season for Ontario motorists. According to the report, 58 percent of young drivers are frustrated by construction-related delays in the warmer months, while only 18 percent are bothered by bad weather in the winter.
“Nobody likes traffic delays and cranky drivers can lead to conflict on the road. But, as a driver your top priority needs to be safety,” says Lorie Phair, CEO of Ingenie Canada. “It’s important not to let emotions get the best of you,”
Many may not recognize the name Ingenie. The company is a very new player in the Canadian P&C market. It’s from the UK and has a fascinating new product.
The company provides what it calls “telematics-based” auto insurance to Ontario drivers aged 16 to 24. The company launched its product—in partnership with Aviva—this past March. The business model is built around a black box in the vehicle that transmits data on braking, acceleration and speed to the insurance company. The company reads the data with an algorithm, reviewing their driving actions every 90 days.
Ingenie builds a picture of a driver’s individual style, awareness and safety on the road. If the driver has been good, they are rewarded with up to 25 percent off their insurance. The product is part of what is becoming known today as User Based Insurance (UBI). The drivers are not rated against other drivers, but rather their own performance. The young drivers learn to improve their own driving by reacting to, or “working against,” their own data. The drivers can learn how to smooth their own driving and how to drive safer by reviewing their performance. The immediate rebates drive the interest in improving driving.
The company’s report findings cite that while the province’s motorists get mad at other rude drivers, they don’t deny adding to the bad behaviour by beeping their horns, flashing their lights and making offensive hand gestures. Ingenie says 5 percent of young drivers admit to using their vehicle to intimidate other motorists, with 37 percent rating their level of road rage to be “medium to high.”
“As a driver, you are responsible for controlling your own vehicle. It’s an important duty that requires your complete attention,” says Phair. “While you may become annoyed by other drivers’ bad habits, it’s not your responsibility to reprimand them. Don’t get emotional, just focus on the task at hand – arriving at your destination safely.”
Ingenie offers up the following six tips to help young motorists keep their cool on the roads this summer:
- Plan your route in advance
- Leave early
- Be considerate to other drivers
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Don’t drive if you’re in a bad mood
- Don’t drive hungry
For more information, go to ingenie.ca.
