IS TECHNOLOGY FINDING ITS GEAR?
How the evolution of autonomy is changing the way we drive
Technology is changing the driving experience at an alarming rate, in some ways by making it significantly safer and in others by increasing the risks we take when we head out on the highway.
On the positive side, automakers are making advancements in semiautonomous technologies that can help drivers maintain better control and avoid the potential for accidents while behind the wheel. Combinations of features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, and active cruise control are being packaged together by some brands, which highlights the ways they work in concert to make a driver’s life easier.
Tesla’s Autopilot feature was one of the first of these to hit the market, and today it permits hands-free highway driving by using 360-degree visibility through eight cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors and forward-facing radar. The latest version, Enhanced Autopilot, also performs speed matching, lane keeping, automatic lane changes, transitions from one highway to the next, and self-parking.
Cadillac Super Cruise is another example of a hands-free semiautonomous highway driving package. Nissan’s ProPilot Assist requires hands on the wheel, but it reduces the effort of highway driving with active cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic and a lane-centering feature that works in a straight line or through curves.
When used correctly, these technologies can have significant advantages: reduced driver fatigue, improved occupant safety, and the lesser-known benefit of more affordable insurance.
“As those safety features become more of a standard rather than a specified option, it is taking the onus out of the driver’s hands as we rely more so on vehicle safety technology,” says Mark Iliopoulos, National Leader for Marketing and Business Development for Aon Canada, the country’s largest insurance brokerage.
Several modern safety features can result in lower premiums. For example, a new vehicle equipped with autonomous emergency braking can qualify for a discount depending on the insurers, with the features and savings varying widely from one insurer to the next.
“As safety advances become the norm, I’m not quite sure what the evolution of the discounts will be,” he says. “However as for now good driving habits coupled with added vehicle safety features can create reduced premiums through substantial discounts.
On the flip side, technology can at times make our roads less safe, particularly when drivers think these semi-autonomous features will protect them while they text and stare at smartphone screens, despite the fact that such inattention is not yet intended.
Taking one’s eyes off the road in any modern vehicle amounts to distracted driving, and the penalties for it continue to rise. This is especially true in Ontario, where a first conviction now nets a fine of up to $1,000, three demerit points, and a three-day driver’s licence suspension as of January 1, 2019.
But the potential implications don’t stop there: being caught with a phone in your hand will have a major impact on your insurance rates.
“The reality is that a simple ticket can have a drastic effect,” Iliopoulos says. “Distracted driving is now being viewed as major offense, and it remains on your driving record for a minimum of three years. You could honestly see a 50 percent increase in your insurance premiums with an infraction such as . That’s on the high end. In many cases, you’re going to see an increase of about 20 to 25 percent, which results in a $300 increase on $1,500 per year.”
And that’s on a first offense. Iliopoulos says that second and subsequent offenses could make being insured an expensive proposition, seeing annual rates grow to the tune of $5,000 to $6,000 for those who are searching for coverage.
“It’s a very serious state of affairs right now. And the unfortunate part is that the insurance companies really do have to do this in order to self-regulate because things are getting out of hand.”
The takeaway message for all Ontario drivers is simple: choose a new vehicle that’s equipped with modern safety features, and then give it your full attention while you’re out on the road.