Allstate Patents Physiological Data Collection

TigerPlish writes: Allstate has been granted patent no. US 20140080100 A1 for a "driving-behavior database that it said might be useful for health insurers, lenders, credit-rating agencies, marketers and potential employers." The program is just in the patent stage for now, but the company says: "the invention has the potential to evaluate drivers' physiological data, including heart rate, blood pressure and electrocardiogram signals, which could be recorded from steering wheel sensors." Imagine a world where you are denied employment or credit based on the information obtained from your car and sold by your insurer. What could possibly go wrong?

Comments

first???

[Cutting_Crew]

and who in the right mind would buy a car with wheel sensors?
and would privacy advocates prevail to keep this from ever entering the market?
what would keep someone from just putting gloves on so it cant read the pulse on your hand?

Re:first???

[bondsbw]

who in the right mind would buy a car with wheel sensors?

Someone who could save a few bucks by joining the "Safe Habits Driving Bonus" program.

Re:first???

[TWX]

I will continue to drive older, low-mileage cars. Right now my two vehicles are both of the 1995 model year and neither is OBD-II.