Roger-Luc Chayer
Ajusto, you know? It is a software package offered by Desjardins insurances and their subsidiaries to measure their customers’ driving habits in order to offer them a rate adjusted according to their driving behavior. There are equivalents for other insurance companies. I enrolled after receiving a significant increase in my bonus simply because in my sector, Desjardins explained that too many people drive the cell phone in hand and, therefore, cause more accidents. The program consists of measuring for 3 months or 1000km all the customer’s driving habits so that a perfect score of 98% or more gives him a discount of 25% of his insurance, and the program does not have to be renewed every year.
At first glance, it is very interesting for those who feel capable of strictly adhering to the speed limits and even their acceleration, braking and cornering. At the end of each day, the customer receives his note and sees the evolution of the discount that will be applied on his premium. In my case, after 3 weeks, I have a score of 99% giving me 25% off. However, after a while, it is realized that the software, which is embedded in the smartphone and that works quite automatically, can become invasive and even controlling. For example, even if your driving is perfect, your score may drop significantly only because of the length of your trip. Sometimes, even for a trip of 6km, Ajusto will consider that it is long, but it is totally denying the reality of Montreal that in the metropolitan area, distances are immense between Rosemont and the city center (16km) for example , or between Montreal-North and Lachine (32km). In addition, always within the framework of impeccable driving, Ajusto will make you automatically lose a lot of points if you drive in rush hour, but does not mention what are these hours.
These are arbitrary elements that give a feeling of being driven, to be controlled. Even if the driver has nothing to be ashamed of, Ajusto will blame him for his travels at certain times of the day and ultimately, will decide a discount not based on your actual conduct, but on the somewhat too wide prejudices of the insurer . As for safety, Ajusto is not a model to follow.
Being always looking everywhere to see the speed signs, then to look at my odometer and make sure I do not go over speed, and with the continual multiple alarms of Ajusto, I consider that I drive in a less safe way before. Finally, let’s not forget that the insurer does everything for your score to go down because it earns financially.