Tesla has launched its Safety Score 2.0, an updated version of its driver scoring system, aimed at making insurance premiums fairer for its customers. The Safety Score was initially developed by the company for use in its own car insurance product, using real-time driving data from its vehicles to assign drivers a score based on how and when they drive. This score affects their monthly premium, either positively or negatively, depending on various factors such as aggressive turning, hard braking, and unsafe following distance.
The Safety Score 2.0 includes significant changes to the existing program, adding Excessive Speeding and Unbuckled Driving as new safety factors. Spending more time driving over 85 mph and driving over 10 mph without buckling the seatbelt will result in a lower Safety Score.
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Additionally, the Late Night Driving safety factor has been updated, with the impact on the Safety Score now being risk-weighted based on the proportion of time spent driving from 10 PM to 4 AM. This change reduces the impact of late-night driving earlier in the night and increases it later.
The last update to the Hard Braking safety factor excludes braking events that occur when the vehicle detects a yellow traffic light. Tesla insurance users who regularly drive at night had previously complained about paying higher premiums, and the change to late-night driving hours addresses that concern. Similarly, not deducting points for hard braking if it’s due to a yellow light aims to ensure safe drivers pay less for insurance.
Tesla’s Safety Score 2.0 is a step toward fairer insurance premiums, promoting safe driving practices by rewarding good behavior and penalizing risky driving habits. It’s another example of how technology can be used to improve road safety and incentivize responsible driving.
