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A new study from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) has revealed 56% of surveyed drivers say they have made changes in their driving habits since installing a device provided by their insurer.

38% said that they did not make changes to their driving habits. The survey found that drivers over the age of 65 years were less likely to make changes than younger drivers.

Among the survey respondents with telematics devices from their auto insurers, 82% said that they received information from their insurer about their driving behaviour after the device was installed. Among them, 81% said that they reviewed the information provided and 88% of the reviewing drivers found the information useful.

The survey also looked at driver awareness of telematics devices from auto insurers, a willingness to participate in telematics programmes and the reasons for not installing a telematics device, concerns over the use of the data from telematics devices and factors that encourage participation in such programmes.

Elizabeth Sprinkel, Senior Vice President, IRC, said: "These findings suggest that having telematics devices installed in vehicles can play a beneficial role in promoting safe driving and reducing the frequency of auto accidents and their associated costs.

"While we can’t say with certainty that the changes drivers make are always for the better, or whether beneficial changes that are made become permanent, we can confidently say that the introduction and use of telematics technology is a move in the right direction," she added.

The report, titled Auto Insurance Telematics: Consumer Attitudes and Opinions, is available here.