MANILA, Philippines - The statistics sound grim: every year, there’s an average of 10,000 road accidents in the country. And that figure is expected to rise given the high growth experienced by the automotive industry as a whole. Dig deeper though and most of these accidents are attributable to driver error or distraction.
“Imagine if we can cut that amount by just two percent. That may not sound much, but considering the numbers, that’s around 200 accidents,” said Kenichi Tanabe, BPI/MS’s president and CEO. “A car is one of the most significant investments a family can make. We help to help protect that investment.”
As a joint venture between the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, BPI/MS is the leader in non-life insurance providers in the country. And now, with the launch of a new and innovative smartphone application called “My Safe Drive”, BPI/MS aims to promote safer and smarter driving in the Philippines.
Available as a download for both iOS and Android smartphones, the My Safe Drive uses the smartphone’s built-in camera, Global Positioning System (GPS), and proprietary software to combine navigation, near-collision, and lane departure alerts with driving analytics.
Powered by iOnRoad, My Safe Drive offers a multitude of features in one single application. First, it monitors headway distance with real-time feedback and audio-visual alerts of a potential collision. Second, it gives lane departure warnings when the car has crossed the edge of the road and is at risk of leaving the road altogether. Third, it gives speeding alerts when driving over a predetermined speed limit or if it detects speed limit road signs. And finally, My Safe Drive acts as a dash camera.
Aside from promoting a safer driving experience, My Safe Drive also aims to make drivers smarter by promoting fuel-efficient and environmentally-conscious driving. It integrates popular navigation software such as Waze and Google Maps into its interface making for a seamless experience. It also reviews your fuel consumption and offer tips for a more efficient drive. Finally, it can also locate your vehicle when parked using GPS.
Using My Safe Drive is very simple. Using any Apple iPhone or Android smartphone, users can download the application in the Apple App Store or Google Play. After that, mount the phone either vertically or horizontally on the dashboard, launch the application, and it’s ready to go.
“The launch of My Safe Drive is further proof that the company is committed to providing its clients and the public with reliable and innovative insurance solutions that help Filipinos make the best happen for their lives,” added Tanabe.