On your next car trip to the office or the store, Big Brother could be riding along with you. Gadgets that make the drive easier, like GPS navigation and electronic toll collecting can let companies know your whereabouts, and more.
Somebody is tracking medical student Sean McGarvey on his commute.
"They know what time I drive. They know how much I drive, and they know if I brake and when I brake," says McGarvey.
"They" are the agents at Progressive Insurance.
A device hooked into McGarvey's Honda Accord lets Progressive keep tabs on him.
McGarvey says, "After four weeks of kind of watching how safe of a driver I was, I found out I got a 27% reduction in my monthly premium."
He is among a growing number of drivers sacrificing some privacy for technology that brings cost savings, and convenience.
That includes GPS navigation devices, services like GM's "Onstar" and electronic toll collectors like Ez Pass.
Consumer advocate Joan Claybook wants federal laws restricting what corporations do with data they collect.
"Consumers should read the contracts before they purchase a product or sign up for a service," says Claybrook.
McGarvey read the fine print. He says he's comfortable with what his insurance company knows and the discount is worth it.
Our cars are likely to know even more about us in the future. Ford engineers are working on safety features that provide health condition alerts, advising drivers when they have low blood sugar and need a snack. It will also track heart rates to warn of an impending heart attack.
