Travelers Institute Brings Every Second Matters℠ Symposia Series to Appalachian State University

November 7, 2017

Company is challenging young people to take on distracted driving

BOONE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV), today will host its Every Second Matters distracted driving series at Appalachian State University in an effort to help change behavior around distracted driving. The Travelers Institute will co-host the event, part of the series’ national kickoff week, with the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina; the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian State; NC Vision Zero; Gamma Iota Sigma fraternity; the National Safety Council; and the Road to Zero Coalition.

“Our research shows that distracted driving takes on many forms for drivers of all ages,” said Joan Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute and Executive Vice President of Public Policy at Travelers. “We’re delighted to start a conversation with young people at Appalachian State University to help motivate drivers to keep a watchful eye on the road and to influence friends and family about acceptable behaviors behind the wheel.”

The event will feature a panel discussion, moderated by Woodward, focusing on the causes of driver distraction and ways to combat the issue, including using the Mojo app created by TrueMotion. By awarding points that can be redeemed to win prizes, Mojo incentivizes people to not use their mobile devices while driving. Woodward will be joined by the following panelists:

  • Jenny Burke, Senior Director of Advocacy, National Safety Council
  • Daniel Findley, Senior Research Associate, Institute for Transportation Research and Education
  • Aubie Knight, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina
  • Pete Gulbrandsen, Vice President, National Auto, Travelers

The keynote address will be delivered by Joe Adelmann, Co-Founder and Vice President of Operations at TrueMotion, the Boston-based technology company that developed Mojo.

“Someone is killed in a motor vehicle accident every 15 minutes,” said Burke. “In injury prevention, we go where the data tells us to go, to raise awareness about the biggest threats on our roads, including distracted driving, teen driving, drunken driving at low alcohol concentrations, drowsy driving and drugged driving.”

“Stressing the dangers of distracted driving and promoting safe driving behaviors will help make our community safer,” said David Marlett, Director of the Brantley Risk & Insurance Center, Appalachian State University. “This event will urge drivers to stay alert and encourage passengers to speak up if their driver gets distracted.”

For more information about the Travelers Institute, 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 casualty insurance for auto, home and business. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.

The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Judy Senechal, 860.277.2366
jlsenech@travelers.com

Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc.