Travelers Institute Launches 2020 Every Second Matters℠ Symposium Series to Combat Distracted Driving

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV), will begin its 2020 Every Second Matters series today at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The program raises awareness about the risks of distracted driving and explores the behaviors and technological innovations that can help keep roads safe.

The 2019 Travelers Risk Index, a national survey of more than 2,000 consumers and executives, found that 77% of drivers make or take calls while driving and nearly one in three drivers have had a near-miss crash because of distracted driving. Other dangerous ways drivers use their mobile devices while behind the wheel include:

• Typing a text or email (44%).
• Using social media (23%).
• Recording videos or taking photos (22%).
• Shopping online (15%).

“Despite the proven risks of distracted driving, many people still use their phones in a variety of ways that can take their attention away from the road,” said Joan Woodward, Executive Vice President of Public Policy at Travelers and President, Travelers Institute. “Building on the momentum generated in 2019, we will continue to bring this important conversation to communities across the country to curb bad driving behaviors and, ultimately, save lives.”

Today’s event will be held in collaboration with the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and will feature a keynote address by Brad Rutherford, Founding Board Member and Treasurer, TennSMART.

Woodward will moderate a panel discussion with the following speakers:

• Lee Han, Ph.D., Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee.
• Arriale Tabson, Public Information Officer, Tennessee Highway Safety Office.
• Linda Moynihan, Southern Regional Vice President, Personal Insurance, Travelers.

“We’ve seen great improvements in driving behaviors across the state of Tennessee in recent years, but we believe that ongoing education about the dangers of distracted driving can have an impact,” said Tabson. “Today’s event gives us the opportunity to share that important message with the broader University of Tennessee community.”

The next Every Second Matters symposium will be held Feb. 19 at the University of Georgia. The program will feature representatives from the Shepherd Center, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Travelers Risk Control team, who will share approaches to combat distracted driving. Other events are planned at college campuses across the United States and Canada and will be announced throughout the year. All seminars are free and open to the public.

For more information on the Every Second Matters initiative or to register for an upcoming event, please visit the Travelers Institute website.

About the Travelers Risk Index
Hart Research conducted a national online survey of 1,000 consumers, ages 18 to 69, in March 2019. Separately, Hart surveyed 1,050 executives from businesses of all sizes. Both surveys were commissioned by Travelers.

About the Travelers Institute
The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc., engages in discussion and analysis of public policy topics of importance to the insurance marketplace and to the financial services industry more broadly. The Travelers Institute draws upon the industry expertise of Travelers’ senior management as well as the technical expertise of many of Travelers’ underwriters, risk managers and other experts to provide information, analysis and solutions to public policymakers and regulators. Travelers is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.