The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc., will launch its Every Second Matters fall event series today in Hartford to highlight the serious risks and consequences associated with distracted driving. The series will explore the unexpected causes of distraction behind the wheel and call on drivers to lead by example in eliminating disruptions to make roads safer for everyone.
The following events will take place this fall in cities and universities across the United States and Canada:
- Tuesday, September 25 – Dunkin’ Donuts Park, Hartford, Connecticut
- Wednesday, September 26 – Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Conference, St. John’s, NL, Canada
- Wednesday, October 3 – University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Saturday, October 6 – Gamma Iota Sigma International Conference, Chicago, Illinois
- Thursday, October 25 – St. John’s University, Queens, New York
- Tuesday, December 11 – University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“Drivers today have more distractions than ever, and it’s not just mobile devices that take their attention away from the road,” said Joan Woodward, Executive Vice President, Public Policy and President of the Travelers Institute. “Whether drivers are texting, changing a song on the radio or eating, anything that takes their eyes or their mind off the road for even one second can cause a collision.”
The first event will be held in partnership with the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the National Safety Council and the Road to Zero Coalition. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin will attend to speak about auto safety in the region.
“Swiping on a phone or reaching to get that cup of coffee can contribute to a serious car crash,” said Mayor Bronin. “We can all do a better job of focusing on the road to help reduce the number of traffic collisions and make the roads safer for everyone. I want to thank the Travelers Institute and their partners for launching this campaign, because every second does matter.”
The Every Second Matters series brings together community leaders, researchers and professionals from the public and private sectors to explore why drivers are losing focus, the role of technology in creating and reducing distractions and the opportunities everyone has as a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian to improve safety on our roadways. The program will kick off with an inside look at the making of a new documentary on distracted driving, 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel, a coproduction of Connecticut Public Television and Boyd Productions.
“The potentially life-changing dangers of distracted driving can’t be overstated,” said Eric Jackson, Ph.D., Director, Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center and Associate Research Professor at the University of Connecticut. “Through the Every Second Matters campaign, we hope to educate people about the dangers of distracted driving and provide them with real ways to help stay focused on the road to keep themselves and others safe.”
To learn more about the Travelers Institute and to register for an upcoming event, visit www.travelersinstitute.org.
About the Travelers Institute
The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc., engages in discussion and analysis of public policy topics of importance to the insurance marketplace and to the financial services industry more broadly. The Travelers Institute draws upon the industry expertise of Travelers’ senior management, as well as the technical expertise of many of Travelers’ underwriters, risk managers and other experts to provide information, analysis and solutions to public policymakers and regulators. Travelers is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance for auto, home and business. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.