The Travelers Companies, Inc., has joined the Advanced Vehicle Technology ("AVT") Consortium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ("MIT") and Partners for Automated Vehicle Education ("PAVE").
Both organizations work to strategically advance research and public information about automated vehicle and driver assistance technologies.
"As a leading auto insurer, we play a central role in the conversation about the future of transportation and mobility," said Michael Klein, executive vice president and president of personal insurance at Travelers. "Our goal through these new collaborations is to continue to understand the evolution of the technology, actively engage in research, and contribute risk management insights to help improve auto safety for everyone."
The AVT Consortium includes top U.S. auto manufacturers, insurance carriers, and automated vehicle technology companies. The organization studies driver behavior, including how drivers respond to and interact with adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous parking assistance, vehicle infotainment systems, and smartphones. That data is shared with consortium members so they can identify how technology and other factors related to automation adoption can be improved.
PAVE is made up of industry, nonprofit, and academic institutions and aims to inform and educate consumers and policymakers about automated vehicles. The group creates consumer awareness campaigns, develops information for sales and customer service personnel, and hosts hands-on demonstrations and public workshops. The goal of these efforts is to build consumer confidence in vehicle technology.
"Automated vehicle technologies are changing the risks on the road, including the dangers associated with distracted driving," said Joan Woodward, executive vice president of public policy for Travelers and president of the Travelers Institute. "We look forward to working closely with PAVE and MIT's AVT Consortium, two groups that will help ensure the next phase of transportation includes improved mobility and safety."
Learn more: Travelers.com/travelers-institute/insuring-autonomy.
Steven A. Meyerowitz
Steven A. Meyerowitz, a Harvard Law School graduate, is the founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. He may be contacted at [email protected].