Half of polled UBI program customers report becoming better drivers: Desjardins

Half of the respondents to a poll marking the one-year anniversary of Desjardins General Insurance Group’s (DGIG) launch of its usage-based insurance (UBI) programs said they are safer drivers and almost seven in 10 said they now pay more attention to acceleration and braking.

Results of the survey – based on input from 257 Ajusto and Intelauto (for group insurance customers) clients – indicates more than two-thirds of respondents agreed with the statement that they pay more attention to acceleration and braking since signing up, notes a statement from DGIG, which provides home and auto insurance to consumers across the country and commercial insurance to businesses in Quebec.

In addition, 50% of those surveyed agreed they have become safer drivers since they installed the telematics device in their vehicles and began monitoring their own driving habits online, while almost 30% reported they are now more conscious of how much they drive, and have tried to drive less when possible.

Having launched Ajusto and Intelauto in May 2013, DGIG reports the company has enrolled 50,000 mostly new Ontario and Quebec customers in the free and voluntary programs in the first year.

Under the programs, clients can earn a total premium discount of as much as 25% based on distance travelled annually, extent and frequency of hard braking and aggressive acceleration, as well as time of day the vehicle is driven.

DGIG reports that clients of the programs are earning on average a 12% discount in their insurance premiums.

DGIG regularly surveys clients to determine their satisfaction with the programs and to identify potential improvements. The most recent survey is consistent with the company’s previous polls and has a margin of error of +5%.

“We were confident that our program would promote safer driving, which is good for our customers and society as a whole. We now have the evidence that shows this is in fact happening,” Denis Cote, DGIG’s vice president of marketing services, says in the statement.