By Steve McKay

… and not just for insurance geeks. The MyRate team is forever attending conferences on cutting-edge auto technology featuring laser displays that appear in front of the windshield, Internet access, floor mats that change color, etc.

My colleague in charge of design has lots of ideas for things the MyRate device could do: glow, talk, tell you when a spark plug is out, speak like Mr. T.

Is it too much? Do you care? Or are all these bells and whistles too distracting? What do you wish your car could do?

By Steve McKay

Q: How does the device know who is driving the car?
A: It doesn’t.

Q: Is it OK if I drive fast, follow closely, and slam on my brakes a lot if everyone around me is doing it, too?
A: No.

Q: How much discount will I lose for speeding? I love to speed.
A: None. Speed does not matter in determining discounts — unless your speeding makes you slam on the brakes all the time as you approach other cars.

Q: Can I put one in my husband’s car and not tell him?
A: Hmmm … maybe that question is better put to a couples counselor! Only the registered owner of the car should plug in the MyRate device.

Q: I like to run red lights late at night when no one is around. Is that OK?
A: No. That’s a bad idea, day or night.