taking the aggression out of driving

Would you buy a device for your car or truck that improves safety and reduces emissions simply by encouraging better driving habits? Greenroad is such a device, and it's backed by Richard Branson and Al Gore. It's a mash-up of existing high-tech devices, including GPS, that "observes" your driving patterns, and uses coloured lights to tell you when you've deviated from the straight and narrow.

Comments

[Kevin Williams]

I'm sure this will cause some very diverse responses as the word gets around. There will be the usual 'Big Brother watching' comments to be sure. If I may be so cynical, I suspect those who drive well, or think they do, will tend to support it more and those who drive more aggressively will resist. Having said that, I will admit both that I think I drive reasonably well for the most part and that as an average citizen, I would not want one in my car/van. Admittedly that is an emotional response, I just don't like the idea of someone/thing telling me I'm not driving as I should.

On the other hand as a business owner, if I had a fleet of vehicles 'out there' I would indeed like to have such a thing in those vehicles. Knowing that the 'boss' can check-up on one's driving patterns would certainly affect the choices made while behind the wheel. And what business owner would not want to save money!

Reflecting as I write, I find it interesting to note that my opinion is so different as a business owner vs being 'Joe Citizen'. The next question could be, what about as an employee - how would I respond? Well, my guess is that I would not be too concerned; so long as I knew that the data would be fairly or accurately interpreted. I find that as an employee, I can more easily say, "It's the bosses problem." However, when I am thinking as though I am accountable only to myself, I will sometimes push the limits in order to get somewhere on time (or be less late) or even just to get more done in a day. That's likely not a good choice, but to be honest, I do it some times.