The Baseline Blog

With the proliferation of telematics devices in vehicles tracking us constantly, it sometimes feels like we're being watched all the time. It's hard not to be paranoid or worried about privacy concerns. With all the different things out there constantly monitoring us, from GPS to CCTV, it sometimes feels like Big Brother is spying on our every move.

It's a nice, sunny day. You're driving down the highway, windows open, wind going through your hair, singing along with Springsteen blasting on the radio. It's a great day to be alive. You  see an 18-wheeler driving by in the next lane.. and all of a sudden you notice.....  that there's nobody behind the wheel.. that the truck seems to be driving itself...

For years I've been saying that I need to buy a new car. Frankly, I'm getting sick and tired of needing a tetanus shot every time I take that rust box on four wheels out for a spin. Yes, I know car insurance is going to play a huge role in the make, model and year of the car I do end up buying. I guess no red sports car for me until I check with a few insurers first. 

Will the legalization of cannabis have any impact on car insurance? It's a weird thing to ask, but consider that in states where it has been legalized that insurance claims involving traffic collisions have gone up 3% while at the same time the average premium hike was 3.2% (rather than the average 1.6% in states where it wasn't legalized). It would seem that bump in premiums is due to something. Coincidence?

Most people tend to only think about insurance 7 minutes a year, if at all. Even then it's either when their premiums are due or they've just had an accident and need to make a claim.