BennyEast.Com/Blog The official blog of Kenny West

Smart Ride

So, I switched over to Nationwide for my car insurance.  They gave me a really big discount to bundle car and home insurance and switch from Progressive.  I've been with Progressive since 2007.  It was definitely a decision that wasn't that easy to make.

Generally when I find something that works and I like it... I keep it.  I'm not big on hopping from one thing to another to another to another.  Usually there are hidden costs and other things that most people don't account for.

One thing is the time and effort it takes to make the switch.  For example... If you're going to make 2 grand more a year to take a new job, but you have to move to an area where rent is 3 grand more a year.

Doesn't make sense.  Also there's all the moving related expenses, packing up all your stuff and then getting to the new area.  Making new friends, finding a new doctor, and dentist and favorite coffee shop and gym and what not.  There's the time and effort to learn the new job etc. etc.

It's more about does it make you happy.  A pay cut could be worth it if you LOVE the job.

Well anyways, I switched over to Nationwide because the service seems comparable and the savings are significant.

Just like my example above there is a "hidden" effort related cost.  So they sent me a small device to put in my car and track my driving for the next 180 days.  I didn't know this would be happening until after I received the device in the mail.

They have me using this thing called Smart Ride thing to track my driving and see how well I'm doing.  Some people might not be happy about having their driving tracked in real time.  It uses a cell network and you can see your information each day at the end of the day.  You can see how many miles you drive, what times of day, how fast you drove and if you were stepping on the gas pedal and brakes really hard.

I drive like a grandma apparently according to the data.  Not a bad thing... In fact, I'm green across the board.  SO far I'm on track to save an additional 40 percent on my insurance!

My thing is... That's just how I normally drive.  I like space between myself and the cars in front of me and behind me.  I like to take my time and check for details.  I do the same thing with work.  I do the same thing in my personal life.  I move slowly and cautiously.  I take a long time to produce new songs, I'm taking time with my books.  I edit emails.  Pay attention to detail.  Make lists and check things off the lists.

I'm not generally one of those people who rides someone's bumper.  It's strange... I've always kind of thought to myself well... You can infer some things from people depending on how they live their life in other ways.  Some people have said... Well that's not cool to judge someone's personality based on what kind of car they drive or how they drive... But...

I mean if you drive a hybrid and you have a yoga mat in the back of your car next to your whole foods grocery bags.... I think that says something different than if you drive a sports car and keep a gym bag in the back.  Or if you drive a pick up truck and have your hunting equipment next to your pair of boots.

It's not bad... it just says something about your personality.

Nationwide apparently agrees.  So if you hard brake a lot and hard accelerate a lot, which is defined by decelerating and accelerating more than 7.7 MPH that's considered higher risk for driving.

I think there are definitely personality types for driving.  Just like Nationwide, I feel like if you accelerate hard, ride up on a bumper and brake hard...

You're more likely to get in an accident.  You're less likely to be careful and pay attention.

Maybe I've just never really liked people who ride your bumper.  Just like I don't much care for people who honk as soon as the light changes green.  Everyone has a natural reaction time... I will give people at least a good 5 seconds or more to start moving.  If they are obviously not paying attention I'll tap my horn.  But I'm very conservative with it.

But... Why be in a hurry?  I've found a lot of life is more about fate and chance and just being in the right place at the right time.

You could actually be so quick to get places that you miss a good chance!

So... I'll keep driving my slow and steady pace and get my discount for it.  And those horn honking ride your bumper pedal to the metal and slam on the brake drivers?  You can pay out the nose for car insurance.

I'll take my Smart Ride savings and be perfectly fine to drive the way Nationwide wants me to drive.  Which just so happens to be the way I already drive.