Driven to Distraction No More

Most of the information for this article was submitted by Distractology 101 organizers. 

will focus greater attention on the dangers of distracted driving with the arrival of an interactive test-drive program for new drivers.

The state-of-the-art Distractology 101 tour will swing into the high school the week of March 19-23 in the form of a 36-foot-long, neon-yellow mobile classroom featuring driving simulators.

The program is being hosted by the Benevento Insurance Agency and introduced by the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation.

The 45-minute "test drive" will give new drivers a real-life look at the potentially disastrous effects of distracted driving and teaches them how to anticipate hidden hazards, react on the road and avoid potential accidents.

Distracted driving is an epidemic in the U.S.: Each year, distracted driving claims the lives of more than 6,000 people and causes an estimated 1.6 million accidents.

Studies show that people who text while driving are 23 percent more likely to be in a crash or barely avoid one and that driving while distracted is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08.

In addition, a study conducted by AAA and Seventeen magazine found that nearly a third of teens admit to texting while driving.

More than 2,000 new drivers have completed the Distractology 101 simulator training since the mobile classroom hit the road in 2010. Eighty seven percent of students surveyed said the experience was effective or extremely effective and the majority of participants said they would recommend the experience to a friend.

“We’re proud to be partnering with Arbella to educate teens and other new drivers about the dangers of distracted driving,” said Tony Benevento of Benevento  Insurance Agency.

“This is about saving the lives of our kids in Swampscott," Benevento said. "We hope parents and teens will recognize the importance of this education effort. Training like this could be the difference between being safe and being a statistic.”

Swampscott Driver Education teacher Joseph Bennett doesn't think there can ever been too much coverage on this topic.

"I plan on incorporating as much of (Distractology 101) into driver education, as possible, he said.

Bennett regularly tells his students about the dangers that distraction poses to drivers.

He drives the point home on the road when he sees other drivers driving and texting or talking on cell phones.

He reminds the students of the dangers of distraction in class through videos and talks.

The texting brain is processing information and taking attention away from important visual cues on the road, he says.

It delays stopping by about 30 percent, Bennett said.

It is as debilitating as driving under the influence of alcohol, the teacher says.

At www.DistractU.com, they’ll take a training lesson for reinforcement of what they learned in the classroom and a safe driving pledge in order to complete the training.

To sign up for the free Distractology 101 training, contact Swampscott High School at (781)596-8830.

About the Arbella Insurance Group and the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation: Established in 1988 and headquartered in Quincy, Mass., the Arbella Insurance Group (www.arbella.com) is a company with more than $600 million in revenue and approximately $1 billion in assets. 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 Group Charitable Foundation in 2004. The mission of the 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 Benevento Insurance Agency: Benevento Insurance Agency is a full-service agency, founded by Anthony Benevento in 1972.  2012 marks 40 years in business, which has been built on personal relationships and customer service.  Benevento Insurance Agency is a family-owned and -operated insurance agency.