Bearingstar Insurance Agency Brings Distractology® Tour to Burlington to Teach Teen Drivers the Dangers of Distracted Driving

Bearingstar Insurance Agency is proud to bring the Distractology tour to its new Burlington location during the week of February 20-24. Developed and funded by the Arbella Insurance Foundation, Distractology was one of the first programs in the country to address distracted driving with young, inexperienced drivers. The campaign features a 36-foot-long mobile classroom outfitted with two high-tech driving simulators designed to give new drivers the chance to experience the perils of distracted driving, including texting while driving. Drivers who have completed Distractology are proven to be 19 percent less likely to have an accident and 25 percent less likely to get traffic violations*

Teens have the highest crash rate of any group in the United States. A 2015 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that distraction was a factor in nearly six out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes. What’s more, 40 percent of teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cellphone in a way that put people in danger. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.

“While public awareness of distracted driving has increased in recent years, the number of distractions drivers must navigate behind the wheel are greater than ever before,” said John Donohue, chairman, president and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group and chairman of the Arbella Insurance Foundation. “Young, inexperienced drivers are especially prone to partake in this dangerous behavior, which is why we’re committed to giving students a firsthand look at the devastating consequences of driving while distracted, whether it be changing the radio station or texting a friend.”

To date, more than 12,000 new drivers, meaning those that have been licensed less than three years or have a learner’s permit, have completed the Distractology training. During the driving simulations, teens and other new drivers face a number of updated scenarios based on real-world examples, related to smartphones, the radio, and food and drink, in residential and highway conditions. Distractology also features striking new graphics inside and out of drivers whose heads have morphed into the distractions that consume them. The images illustrate the way distractions, like phones, food and drink, and the radio, can take full control of drivers’ minds, diverting their attention from the road. The images reflect the new tagline: “Don’t let distractions take over.” Ninety-six percent of students who participated in the program would recommend it to their friends – a strong indication of the impact Distractology is having on local drivers.

“I would like to encourage our customers to take part in the Distractology training program because I believe it saves lives. My two children participated in this program and they were both amazed at how easily and quickly a driver can become distracted. It helped them realize that every second counts, and that they need to be fully aware of their surroundings. I would encourage every teen out there to be part of this training. It is these hands-on scenarios and accompanying education that have the greatest impact. We at Bearingstar Insurance are proud to host the Distractology tour for our teens in Burlington.

The Distractology curriculum and simulator are based on Arbella Insurance Foundation-funded research conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst). Distractology travels to various communities in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island during the 2016-2017 school year, offering 45 minutes of simulated distracted driving to each participant. Fully funded by the Arbella Insurance Foundation, Distractology is free to eligible drivers.

To sign up for the Distractology training, contact Nashalie Rodriguez at nashalie.rodriguez@bearingstar.com or call (978)-767-9214.

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 $850M in revenue with over 1 billion dollars 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 Bearingstar Insurance Agency

Bearingstar Insurance specializes in risk identification and protection to meet the needs of individuals, families, and businesses. As a member of the Arbella Insurance Group, we service clients from multiple locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. Providing stellar customer service is at the forefront of every interaction and we work hard to make sure customers have the right protection to meet their needs. For more information, please visit www.bearingstar.com.

* Results are based upon data obtained from Arbella Mutual Insurance Company’s youthful operators who took the Distractology training when compared to those who did not from 2010 through 2014.