N.P. James Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101 Tour to Concord-Carlisle High School

N.P. James Insurance Agency is proud to bring the state-of-the-art Distractology 101 tour to Concord-Carlisle High School during the week of November 9-13. 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, 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 were distracted at the time of a fatal crash and 57 percent of those killed were the teen drivers themselves.

“Despite increased awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, the epidemic shows few signs of slowing down,” said John Donohue, chairman, president and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group, and chairman and president of the Arbella Insurance Foundation. “We remain dedicated, for a fifth year, to our mission of educating young drivers on the perils of distracted driving. Distractology is a highly effective tool because it gives drivers a very clear picture of the consequences of a distracted driving crash scenario.”

To date, more than 10,000 new drivers, meaning those that have been licensed less than three years or have a learner’s permit, have completed the Distractology 101 training. 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.

“Since 2010, Distractology 101 has played a vital role in educating our young drivers on the dangers of distracted driving. In collaboration with driver training director Court Booth, CCHS has arranged a second week of Distractology training.” said Nancy James of N.P. James Insurance Agency. “Although laws are now in place against distracted driving, virtual reality exercises are the key to making sure drivers understand smart decisions behind the wheel. We at N.P. James Insurance are both honored and proud to host the Distractology tour and thank Arbella for this generous opportunity.”

The Distractology driving simulator, based on Arbella-funded research conducted with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, will travel to various communities in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island during the 2014-2015 school year, offering 45 minutes of simulated distracted driving to each participant.

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, contact Mary Zellner at CCHS 978-318-1400 ext. 7523 mzellner@colonial.net

About the Arbella Insurance Group and the Arbella Insurance Foundation

Established in 1988, the Arbella Insurance Group (www.arbella.com) is a company with over $700M in revenue with approximately $1.3B 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 N.P. James Insurance Agency

Nancy James has been the owner and principal of the N. P. James Insurance Agency in Concord center for the past 33 years. The agency services suburban home and auto clients and understands the importance of shepherding new drivers through their first vulnerable years.

Nancy James is a risk and insurance specialist for complex personal exposures, including world-wide placement capabilities. Nancy is widely published in the area of technology risk, Internet security and liability, and speaks nationally and internationally on liability exposure issues. She is a licensed insurance adviser and past president of the Massachusetts Society of Licensed Insurance Advisers. 978-369-2771 npjames@npjames.com www.npjames.com