Car safety news
04/06/2008

Ideal device to accompany female driver insurance

A UK company has developed a black-box type gadget that is reported to be able to call the emergency services for you if you have a serious accident or your vehicle is stolen, potentially proving to be a useful boon for lower cost female driver insurance rates.

The Neo-Trac device contains an acceleration sensor that can detect abrupt changes in speed or direction of the vehicle. If the car runs into something, is impacted from behind or turns over, the device is activated in micro-seconds.

Once activated the box - built by Unipart, a logistics and car part business - sends out a signal to operatives at a response centre. A GPS tracking system will then pin-point your position and alert the emergency services.

The Neo-Trac can also serve as a security device. The GPS tracker can alert police if your car moves without you and your security tag on board thus helping to keep your car insurance quote to a minimum.

Unfortunately, the system, costing from £615 with an annual charge of nearly £200, has not yet been fully tested by independent safety bodies.

Thatcham - a motor insurance repair research centre - said that although the GPS tracking aspect of the device had received an impressive category five security standard, the accident reporting function had yet to be tested. This is a proposal for the future.

Female driver insurance specialist, CoverGirl, welcomed this - and any - advancement in driver safety.

A spokesperson said, "Lone women drivers will benefit from the unit's security and safety benefits. Let's hope the testing reveals positive results for the Neo-Trac and that female driver insurance quotes can be kept as low as possible as a result."