Test by insurer Progressive monitors driver's location

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Major U.S. car insurers for years have reassured policyholders that the monitoring devices they install in vehicles as a way of rewarding safe driving don't track location.

That could be about to change.

Progressive Corp. has begun testing a device that might factor location into discounts for good driving habits.

Dave Pratt, Progressive's top telematics executive, disclosed Wednesday at the Chicago Auto Show that his company will be collecting location "data from a sample of customers" in 2014 for research purposes.

Pratt explained that some routes or areas can be riskier than others. Making numerous left turns while driving close to home, for example, can be potentially more dangerous than, say, a straight-shot drive to the airport, he said.

Watching you.