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Saltmarsh Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Winchester to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving

Saltmarsh Insurance Agency is proud to bring the state-of-the-art Distractology 101 tour to Winchester during the week of April 28-May 2. Distractology 101 is an interactive program developed by the Arbella Insurance Foundation to teach new drivers the dangers of distracted driving. The campaign features a 36-foot-long, neon-yellow mobile classroom outfitted with high-tech driving simulators designed to give new drivers the chance to experience the perils of distracted driving, including texting while driving.

More than 3,000 people are killed each year in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 421,000 are injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving at any given daylight moment across America. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field at 55 mph, blind.

“Distracted driving is an epidemic that continues to worsen despite the public’s general awareness of its dangers,” said John Donohue, chairman, president and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group, and chairman and president of the Arbella Insurance Foundation. “Distractology is an effective teaching tool because young drivers actually experience the feeling of a distracted driving crash scenario. They feel the shock of an unanticipated road hazard and the distress of a crash, but from the safety of the simulator. The simulation has a more lasting impact than reading about or watching a crash secondhand.”

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To date 7,000 new drivers, meaning those that have been licensed less than three years or have a learner’s permit have completed the Distractology 101 training. In 2012, 97% percent of students surveyed said the experience was effective or extremely effective and 82% said they would recommend the experience to a friend. 

The Distractology driving simulator, based on Arbella-funded research conducted with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass), will travel to various communities in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island during 2014, offering 45 minutes of simulated distracted driving to each participant.

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During the driving simulator training — Distractology 101: A Crash Course on Distracted Driving — teens and other new drivers face a number of scenarios based on real-world examples, educating participants on how to anticipate hidden hazards, react to the road and avoid accidents. Participants also complete the online portion of the curriculum at www.DistractU.com and make a safe-driving pledge in order to complete the training.

To sign up for the free Distractology 101 training, please contact Winchester High School for appointments.

About the Arbella Insurance Group and the Arbella Insurance Foundation

Established in 1988, the Arbella Insurance Group (www.arbella.com) is a company with more than $600M in revenue with approximately $1B in assets, headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Arbella is a customer-focused regional property and casualty insurance company, providing personal and business insurance in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and business insurance in Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Arbella Insurance Group founded the Arbella Insurance Foundation in 2004. The mission of Arbella’s Foundation is to engage in activities and to support not-for-profit organizations that have a significant positive impact on the people and communities served by Arbella.

About Saltmarsh Insurance Agency

For over fifty years, Whip Saltmarsh and the Saltmarsh Insurance Agency (www.saltmarshinsurance.com) has been helping protect people from the risks they face every day. They manage the evolving insurance needs of three generations of families and businesses throughout New England. Every member of the Saltmarsh team works together seamlessly, bringing their established experience to the task. From summer cottages to corporate headquarters, from compact cars to private jets, the Saltmarsh team demonstrates their complete devotion to providing clients with the best possible service and ensuring all their insurance needs are met. 

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