SALT LAKE CITY — About a year ago, KSL researchers got under the hood of our “connected” smart cars to see what information they were collecting about us. Sean Lawson, a professor at the University of Utah, said consumers are sacrificing privacy for convenience.
“There’s definitely a lot of risk involved in terms of the data being collected,” Lawson said.
Now, one of those risks is coming into focus. It could also be costly, according to a new report in the New York Times. The paper found that some internet-connected vehicles share our driving habits with insurance companies.
This news is in addition to other reasons we’ve been reporting on rising insurance premiums. Trisha Madsen, who lives in St. George, said she couldn’t believe it when she opened her latest bill from her auto insurance company and noticed her premium had nearly doubled. .
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“That’s kind of why I’m reaching out…I don’t want this to happen to a lot of people,” Madsen said.
that teeth This happens to many people and increases the average premium by more than 20%. Many factors are at play, including cars becoming more expensive and repairs taking longer, and more drivers on the road after the pandemic. But knowing what your smart car is telling your insurance company about your driving habits could also be a factor.
If you think you’re a good driver, with knowledge you can get products specifically designed to keep an eye on you. Connecting them will send a report back to your insurance company, which claims it can use that information to potentially lower your rates. But if you drive a car connected to the internet, you may be sharing your habits without your explicit knowledge.
