Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

OnStar isn't the only device these days if you want to keep track of an elderly or teen driver who is lost or in an emergency situation. State Farm is getting in on the action by offering a new program to Illinois drivers which can report a car accident in Chicago or elsewhere in the state, as well as, locate a stolen vehicle or vehicle driving outside a pre-determined boundary.

Our Illinois car accident lawyers know that a program like this can potentially save lives in addition to saving money so drivers should consider the options. Emergency situations while driving can be terrifying, so having some peace of mind with a similar device can make driving less stressful.

CNET reports that the new program, In-Drive, will be offered this fall to policy holders in Illinois and then eventually branch out to other states throughout the nation.

The technology contains two small devices. One is a small device that plugs into the vehicle's On-Board Diagnostics port and the second device slides onto your visor. Two levels will be offered to customers. A basic package called Connect offers carbon footprint reports, fuel economy, and vehicle diagnostics. It has the capacity to locate a stolen vehicle and it can assess driving risks, meaning how hard you brake or how fast you turn corners among other things. This package costs $5.99 a month.

The Guardian, with an $11.99 monthly fee, offers the basic package plus an emergency roadside assistance operator available at your fingertips. Drivers involved in an accident can push the button located on their visor; reach an emergency operator who will then send a first responder to the accident. The technology also allows the operator to reach out to the driver if they detect an accident has occurred but no one has pushed the button.

A third option is also available for policy holders with a teen or elderly driver in their family. Co Pilot is tagged with a $9.99 monthly service fee but can alert a parent or caregiver if the device detects a vehicle going over the speed limit or beyond a pre-determined boundary otherwise known as geofencing.

Customers may not want to pay the extra money for these services but State Farm has made it affordable by offering the new program in conjunction with the Drive Safe & Save Program.

This savings program helps drivers who don't travel a lot of miles and practices save driving behaviors. In-Drive customers will now be eligible for the Drive Safe & Save Program and can save anywhere from 3 to 20 percent on their insurance premium.

The In-Drive program can give drivers involved in an accident the peace of mind that someone is a touch away from sending help. Monitoring your whereabouts could potentially save a life with this new safety technology offered by State Farm.