Neighbor News
Doherty Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101 Tour to Phillips Academy
Mobile Classroom and High-Tech Driving Simulations Educate Young Drivers Firsthand
Doherty Insurance Agency is proud to bring the state-of-the-art Distractology 101 tour to Phillips Academy in Andover during the week of October 13-17. 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.
According to a 2014 report from the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated nine people die and 1,060 are hurt each day as a result of distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 71% of teens and young adults say they have composed and sent text messages while driving, and 78% of teens and young adults say they have read a text while driving. Sending or receiving a text message 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. According to the NHTSA, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving at any given daylight moment across America.
“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, 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.
“Since 2010, Distractology 101 has played a vital role in educating our communities’ young drivers on the dangers of distracted driving,” said Jay Doherty of Doherty Insurance Agency. “Though laws are now in place against distracted driving, education is the real key to making sure drivers, especially young drivers, make smart decisions behind the wheel. After a successful visit of the program last year during Andover Days, Doherty Insurance is proud to host the Distractology tour for the students of Phillips Academy.”
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.
