An object of mystery is hidden in two million Italian cars. It is the black box, a device that detects information useful for establishing the causes of accidents. According to the National Association of Insurance Companies, which presented a dossier today in Rome, at the end of 2013, 6% of insured cars in our country had one of these instruments on board. The percentage in itself is not high (although by 2017 it should rise to 15-17%), but it is enough to project us into first place in Europe (in the United Kingdom it is less than 1%) and to outclass the United States (1,5 about .XNUMX%).
HELP TO REDUCE PRICES, BUT BY HOW MUCH?
Unfortunately, Italy is also the European country where motor liability insurance costs the most. From this point of view, "the use of anti-fraud tools such as the black box can make it possible to reduce premiums in areas where you pay a lot - underlines Dario Focarelli, director general of the Association -, reducing the gap between virtuous motorists North and those of the South". However, ANIA does not provide any estimates on the potential reduction in prices, stating that the offer of insurance companies is excessively varied.
THE CUSTOMIZED RISK INDEX
But what exactly is a black box for? Not only to avoid insurance fraud, detecting whether accidents actually occurred and how. Another central point is the so-called "risk analysis": the device "records data on journeys in terms of mileage, type of roads and times, also collecting information on the driving style of motorists - explains Vittorio Verdone, central director of the Ania –. There are no problems for privacy, because the registrations are sent to the insurance companies in aggregate form, with the attribution of average scores, so that companies can better calibrate the offer on the basis of the policyholder's risk index”. In essence, we are traveling towards the personalization of the policy.
SAFETY AND COSTS
Furthermore, the black box "is also useful in terms of safety - continues Verdone -, because it alerts in the event of danger (it activates, for example, when the speed limits are exceeded) and calls for help in the event of a emergency. Finally, it can also work as a satellite anti-theft system”, because it contains a GPS system.
However, it is good to keep an eye on the costs, because the functions and services of the black boxes that do not fall within the scope of motor liability insurance are charged to the users. Instead, the insurance companies pay for the installation and any replacement or removal, as prescribed in 2012 by the Liberalization decree of the Monti government.
FROM MONTI'S DECREE TO READ BACK
That same provision required companies to guarantee "significant discounts" to motorists who accept the black box system in their car. A principle that the Letta government has tried to make more stringent, but without succeeding. With a provision included in the Destination Italy decree, the last Executive set a minimum threshold for these discounts equal to 7% of the policy. On February 5, however (even after the protests of the Ania), the rules on motor liability have been removed from the decree and included in a bill whose fate is still uncertain.
For the moment, therefore, reference is still made to the indications of the Monti government. It is a pity that the implementing regulation (a responsibility of the Ministry of Economic Development, in concert with IVASS and the Privacy Guarantor) has never been launched.
Attachments: Ania Dossier.
