Insurer driving device puts safety at a premium Young driver Jacinta Halsall displays the "Insurance Box" road monitoring device. A BLACK box-style device that monitors whether drivers are speeders or tailgaters will be offered to young drivers to reduce insurance premiums. The sophisticated "big brother" gadget will determine who is at fault in an accident, track stolen vehicles and give drivers behavioural feedback. In a first for Australia, insurance giant QBE is launching the product on Monday, which it says will save lives. But, privacy campaigners say the devices are intrusive and could be used against drivers in court action. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think the device will make our roads safer? Frank Peppard, who created the Insurance Box product with QBE, said it would slash premiums for responsible drivers and improve road safety. "This product will save lives over time, and it's ideal for young drivers who obviously have the most smashes and ­fatalities," Mr Peppard said. Planted beneath the dashboard, the matchbox-sized gizmo uses sensors to tell if the driver is tailgating, speeding or if they've been in a collision. Telematics technology broadcasts the data over a secure mobile network and then interprets it into a safety score. Australian trials revealed teenagers stereotyped as risky road users could save several hundred dollars on their policies after just one year. An 18-year-old woman from Sydney's northern suburbs could save almost $600 in a year, while a 43-year-old man from Newport could spend at least $100 less. There is also a one-off $100 payment for the unit. If you're a good driver, whether you're 18 or 80, you should be rewarded. Why should you subsidise those who aren't? Mr Peppard said. Toorak woman Jacinta Halsall, 22, said she was excited to participate in the new scheme. It seemed a bit like Big Brother at first. But it's a rational way to monitor the kind of driver you are," she said. The monitoring systems, widely used in the US and Europe, are being trialled by a number of Australian insurers, and are predicted to drive policy prices down. KORE Wireless general manager Shane Murphy, who worked with QBE to implement the scheme, said feedback on driver habits would reduce collisions. "It means less accidents, less speeding and less fines," Mr Murphy said. But Liberty Victoria spokeswoman Jane Dixon said she would be surprised if motorists flocked to sign up to such ­"intrusive monitoring." "If you're in an accident then the police can subpoena that material or obtain it with a warrant," she said.