The Travelers Institute has launched its Every Second Matters fall event series, seeking to raise awareness about the risks and consequences of distracted driving and to empower young people, their broader communities, and businesses to combat this dangerous behavior.
In a statement, the institute said that educational programming would explore different approaches to help change behaviors and make roads safer for everyone, including pedestrians and cyclists.
"Today's younger generations may be one of our greatest assets, not only in speaking up and helping change social norms around distracted driving but also in leveraging new technologies to help prevent it," said Joan Woodward, executive vice president for public policy and president of the institute. "Using features that block phone notifications while driving, for example, could go a long way in avoiding the temptation to take your eyes off the road."
According to recent surveys of distracted driving behavior in eight markets around the country, Travelers found that college-age drivers used communication-blocking technology like "Do Not Disturb" more than any other age group. In the greater Los Angeles area, for example, 47 percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 said they used this technology, compared to 29 percent of respondents overall.
At each Every Second Matters symposium, the institute will share instructions for using features like "Do Not Disturb," as well as other techniques to help drivers stay focused behind the wheel.
"It's important to remember that phone use is only one potential cause of distraction for drivers and diverting your eyes from the road for any reason can have life-altering consequences" said Michael Klein, president of personal insurance at The Travelers Companies, Inc. "We all have an opportunity to do better for ourselves and for each other by keeping our attention on the road ahead."
Learn more: Travelers Institute.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].