Play games, get cheaper auto insurance

Oct 2, 2008

A new initiative from one of the country's largest insurers promises to give older drivers the opportunity to cut their rates by playing computer games.

But if you're thinking you can leverage your Halo or Madden addiction into cheaper insurance, you're sadly mistaken. The discount, which is being trialled with 100,000 Pennsylvania-based customers of Allstate Corp. between the ages of 50 and 75, only applies if you spend 10 hours with a purpose-designed "brain fitness software program" from developer Posit Science.

Allstate hopes that trained brains will translate into better drivers -- which, of course, will translate into fewer accidents and lower payouts. Good news for everyone, then, especially as Posit claims "scientific studies have demonstrated that training can reduce crash risk by up to 50%".

The company will decide next year whether to roll it out nationally, and as Allstate assistant vice-president Tom Warden told the Associated Press, they're hoping it'll deliver "significant benefits" to older, more accident-prone drivers.

Play games, get cheaper auto insurance

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