Farmingdale High School Students Get Lesson On District Driving

From Zimmerman/ Edelson Inc: As the number of fatal auto crashes accelerates at an alarming pace – jumping 14 percent in the U.S. from 2014 to 2016[i], with an estimated 953 deaths in New York last year[ii] – Allstate is advocating to put roadway safety front and center. On Friday, September 29, the company brought its Reality Rides®tour to Farmingdale High School, to heighten awareness of the often devastating, but preventable, impact of distracted driving.

“From personal devices and navigation systems to interacting with passengers and even simple things like eating, a variety of distractions can easily divert drivers’ attention,” said Allstate spokesperson, Kayla Taylor. “Reality Rides provided a secure environment for Farmingdale students to learn about the often costly and deadly impact of distracted driving and is an important part of Allstate’s efforts to help make our roads safer.”

Now in its fifth year touring North America, Reality Rides features a stationary vehicle equipped with a virtual reality, curved LED screen across the windshield to display animated scenarios drivers often encounter. Using the simulator’s steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, operators try to navigate those situations while also attempting to text message, answer phone calls or use in-car technology like GPS, all activities that frequently distract drivers in real life. Afterward, participants receive “traffic citations” that highlight real infractions they have committed during their simulations.

“Student safety is our highest priority and this event enables students to see firsthand how dangerous distracted driving can be,” said John Lorentz, Superintendent of Farmingdale School District. “We hope that by educating our students about the risks they take when they text and drive our students will become more mindful drivers.”

“Distractions take a motorist’s attention off driving; a risk to themselves and everyone else using the road” said Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau). “One of every 10 fatal crashes in the U.S. involves distraction, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths per year. I commend Allstate's Reality Rides for their awareness tour and helping younger drivers learn the risks of distracted driving will save lives and make our highways and roads safer.”

This year, Reality Rides also offers new features and enhanced technology, including touch-screen monitors that educate participants about New York traffic deaths and that enable visitors to take selfies to share on social media as GIFs. Also for the first time, Reality Rides will feature a virtual pledge wall displaying participants’ photos, as a demonstration of their support for Allstate’s X the TXT movement in which drivers pledge to not text behind the wheel.

Distracted Drivers, Deadly Consequences

Taking steps to prevent distracted driving is increasingly important, as motorists continue to log more miles, often with deadly consequences:

· The National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) found Americans drove about 70 billion more miles during the first nine months of 2016, compared to the same period in 2015.[iii]

· Car crash deaths during the first nine months of 2016 increased about 8 percent, compared to the same period the previous year.iii

· During a typical daylight moment in the U.S. in 2015, an estimated 542,000 drivers were using hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel.[iv]

· NHTSA says distracted driving crashes killed nearly 3,500 people in 2015, an almost 9 percent jump from the previous year.[v]

Reality Rides Impact

Surveys of over 7,600 Reality Rides participants at more than 110 past events[vi] found the simulator has an impact that may change behavior:

· Before trying it, almost half of participants said they text while driving and about two-thirds say they talk on the phone while driving.

· After experiencing the simulator, nearly 60 percent of participants surveyed say they’ll never text while driving.

· More than half of Reality Rides participants surveyed say, after trying the simulator, they won’t let others drive distracted.

Safety Tips

Allstate offers the following tips to prevent distracted driving:

· Put cell phones and other mobile devices out of reach prior to departing, to eliminate the desire to check them while driving.

· Input navigation directions and send messages before getting on the road.

· Use caution when choosing to listen to loud music or engage with other passengers.

· Keep both hands on the steering wheel and don’t try to multi-task with other common distractions like eating or applying makeup.

Farmingdale High School is one of 50 locations to host Reality Rides this year. For more tour stops and event photos, visit Facebook.com/XtheTXT. While there, check out information and resources about distracted driving, engage in the conversation and invite friends and family to participate in prevention efforts.

Survey Methodology

The onsite, multiple-choice Allstate Reality Rides 2013-2016 survey of more than 7,600 Americans age 15 and older was conducted from April 2013 through October 2016 via more than 110 Reality Rides events. Participants were surveyed before and after experiencing the distracted driving simulator. Gathered respondent data was normalized to ensure consistency between the pre- and post-simulation experience.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life’s uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Other growth platforms include predictive analytics company Arity and consumer-product protection plan company SquareTrade. Allstate is widely known through the slogan “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®.” Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. In 2016, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $42 million to support local communities.

Photo courtesy of Zimmerman/Edelson Inc