InsureTech: DIGITALD reshaping Insurance?

According to the World Health Organization, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of road accidents worldwide (2013). A National Transport and Safety Authority analysis estimates that by November 30, 2021, the number of traffic deaths will have climbed by 18.5%. These are brought on, among other things, by reckless driving, jaywalking, drunk walking, and drunk driving. Drunk driving and excessive speeding are the main contributing factors, accounting for 60% of the accidents. Drunk driving is responsible for 10% of these.

The hazard of drunk driving has permeated the insurance sector, prompting participants to work to solve related issues. The number of fraudulent claims submitted to insurance firms has gone up. One out of every four insurance claims, according to the Insurance Regulatory Authority, is fraudulent, and the growth of claims has surpassed the growth of gross written premiums. From KES 132.7 billion to KES 148.8 billion, there was a rise of 12.1%. Claims for general underwriting insurers increased from KES 58.3 billion in 2019 to KES 68 billion in 2020, an increase of over 17%.

How can we best eliminate road accidents caused by drunk driving?

We came up with a Digital Alcohol Detection System (DIGITALD) to solve these problems. 

The presence of alcohol in a driver’s breath is detected by this system. It goes one step further by tracking the location of the car and communicating its latitude and longitude to authorized individuals via short messaging services. The location of the vehicle, the driver’s breath alcohol content, and the vehicle’s registration information are all included in the SMS message sent to approved units. When the permitted alcohol levels are exceeded, the ignition system of the car automatically locks and the engine gradually slows down until it comes to a complete stop.

Watch a short clip of how it works here

In addition to assisting in the prevention of fatalities and property damage caused by drunk driving, this technology when implemented in vehicles will help to reduce the overall number of accidents that occur as a result of drunk driving. It will decrease the amount of fraudulent claims submitted each year as it provides documentation of occurrences brought on by drunk driving.

We want to raise awareness about this threat and the devastation that accidents cause for affected families. We are outraged that passengers are intimidated into silence when they speak out about drunk driving in public transportation. We want to make room for travelers to be themselves. We want to show compassion and grace. We want to come up with solutions like DIGITALD, innovate more, and bring the world to a halt until everyone knows about this, that our lives can rise up against us, that there is a war, and that our lives are bearing the brunt of it. 

“First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you,”  Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald.

This article was presented by Multimedia University Students: Jeniffer Atetwe, Vema Oluoch, Charles Waweru & Elisha Ben, who emerged victorious in this year’s (2022) National PDC with their innovative product DIGITALD