Distracted Driving Initiative

Drive safe. Drive present. Lead by example.

Distracted driving is a dangerous and common occurrence on today’s roadways. Technology, like smartphones, is part of the problem, but any activity that diverts attention from driving presents a risk. Our Every Second Matters^® initiative empowers drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians to speak up, set positive examples and play an active role in changing roadway behaviors to help prevent injuries and save lives.

Download the fact sheet

Guides for starting the conversation

What can you do?

Join the distracted driving conversation and learn how you can spread the word by watching this video. Lives depend on it.

Read transcript

[DESCRIPTION]
Every Second Matters logo and Travelers Institute/Travelers logo

TEXT: Addressing Distracted Driving with Travelers Institute President Joan Woodward

[DESCRIPTION]
Scenes of traffic and POV scenes of driving

[SPEECH]
JOAN WOODWARD: Driving on our roads today has become increasingly risky.

Traffic fatalities spiked to a 16-year high, and pedestrian fatalities a 40-year high.

[DESCRIPTION]
Traffic fatality graph

TEXT: Historical Trends in U.S. Traffic Fatalities. U.S. Traffic Fatalities. U.S. Pedestrian Fatalities.

TEXT: Note: U.S. pedestrian fatalities are included in the total U.S. traffic fatalities count.

[DESCRIPTION]
POV night driving superimposed by text messages

[SPEECH]
There are a lot of contributing factors to this, one of them being distracted driving.

[DESCRIPTION]
Cut to Joan Woodward speaking to camera

TEXT: Joan Woodward. President, Travelers Institute. Executive Vice President, Public Policy.

[SPEECH]
Consider these facts. More than a third of drivers nearly had a crash because of distracted driving.

Over half of drivers admit to actively texting or emailing while they’re driving.

[DESCRIPTION]
Car driving down road

TEXT: 19% shop online behind the wheel

[SPEECH]
And a shocking 19% of people admit to actively shopping online, making a purchase while they’re driving.

Distracted driving is costing lives.

[DESCRIPTION]
Cut to Joan Woodward speaking to camera

[SPEECH]
It doesn’t have to be that way. We can all be part of the solution.

TEXT (builds): • Pull over to take calls • Silence notifications • Set navigation • Don’t read texts • Speak up

[SPEECH]
Pull over to take that call.

Silence your notifications.

Set your navigation before you start your journey.

And don’t read texts and emails while you’re driving. It can wait.

If you’re a passenger, speak up to a driver who might be distracted.

All of these things can save lives.

[DESCRIPTION]
Cut to Travelers Institute footage

[SPEECH]
At the Travelers Institute, we’re continuing to promote awareness and education on this really important topic.

[DESCRIPTION]
Every Second Matters logo and Travelers Institute/Travelers logo

[SPEECH]
That’s through our Every Second Matters campaign.

[DESCRIPTION]
Cut to Joan Woodward speaking to camera

[SPEECH]
So, join the conversation. Be part of the solution with us. Lives depend on it.

[DESCRIPTION]
Travelers Institute/Travelers logo

[SPEECH]
To learn more, go to the Travelers Institute.org

TEXT: travelers institute dot org.

For this webinar, we brought our cameras to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for a heart-pounding, live crash test, with commentary and real-time reactions from IIHS’ leading safety experts.

Watch the replay

Keep exploring

Four speakers on stage at the Lifesavers conference

How Technology Innovations Are Improving Distracted Driving Data and Advancing Safety

April 8, 2024

This session, hosted in-person at the 2024 Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety, explored how technology helps assess crash rates caused by distraction, improve data collection and promote safer driving habits.

Watch the replay

ADAS webinar stillshot

ADAS in the Wild

September 13, 2023

Newer vehicles today are packed with sensors and technology. Learn more about Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (or ADAS) that aim to help drivers better react to danger on the road and partially automate the driving task.

Watch the replay

All past events

Unfinished stories

This awareness campaign honors victims of distracted driving by bringing their unfinished stories to life, imagining what could have been.

Zaadii

Zaadii’s unfinished story

Zaadii is a young Navajo boy who was tragically killed by a distracted driver.

Among his greatest joys in life were stories of superheroes. In fact, at three years old, Zaadii was given a cape and decided he too was a superhero. We agree. Zaadii’s Unfinished Story is The Legend of Z-Hawk, a superhero who fights to protect the environment and all that is good in the world. With this comic book, we honor the memory of Zaadii, superhero.

Read Zaadii's comic here

Read transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] (DESCRIPTION)

A Travelers red umbrella centers on the screen.

(SPEECH) [GREG]

Our son Phillip was um, a very driven athlete. There wasn't a day, it didn’t matter what the weather was that he didn’t get out there and run.

[AMY]

Phillip made everyone feel like they were his best friend.

[GREG]

Even the mailman liked Phillip because he’d see him, they shared the same route every day, and Phillip would smile and wave at him.

[AMY]

One day Phillip said, “Get your tickets to Rio because I’m going to be there”. So I’m like, Wow ok ya know?

[GREG]

He was just that way about everything. He always wanted to be the best. He was on his daily run…

[AMY]

And a woman crossed over the centerline of the road and struck him from behind. That was horrible. She got a call to her cell phone at the time of the crash. It was distracted driving. Phillip had his whole life ahead of him. And the worst part of all this is that we’ll never know what he would have accomplished, what he would have done, and where he would be.

(DESCRIPTION)

[ON SCREEN TEXT]

In Phillip’s honor, we imagined his unfinished story. [BUZZING CELL PHONE]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I’ve got the whole world at my fingertips. I feel like flying, I feel infinite. I know that we’re the kind to think along to other lines but we’’ feel be fine. Come along now, the sky is endless now. We are limitless, We are limitless, now. Come along now, the sky is endless now. We are limitless, We are limitless, now. The sky is calling, calling out to me. Some new beginnings with

endless possibilities. Are you with me? Can you hear me? When I sing out. The sky is endless now. We are limitless, we are limitless, now. Come along now, the sky is endless now. We are limitless, we are limitless.

[THE CROWD CHEERS]

[ON SCREEN TEXT]

Distracted driving takes the lives of 9 people each day.

Leaving their stories unfinished.

Phillip LaVallee 1993 - 2013

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I’ve got the whole world at my fingertips. I feel like flying, I feel infinite. I know that we’re the kind to think along to other lines but we’’ feel be fine.

[ON SCREEN TEXT]

Let’s end distracted driving. (DESCRIPTION)

Travelers Every Second Matters initiative logo. Travelers.com/distracteddriving

Read transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] (DESCRIPTION) A Travelers red umbrella centers on the screen.

(DESCRIPTION) Emily Stein Howard’s Daughter

(SPEECH) [EMILY] My dad, Howard, was a self-taught carpenter. But when he walked into this studio, this workshop, he became an artist. Every morning, from as young as I can remember, he would be in the shop building pieces of furniture, creating things. He really had a vision.

In the middle of the night, we got a phone call. My dad was driving home from work, and he pulled over on the side of the road to secure a tarp on his truck. And a distracted driver who was programming her GPS swerved out of her lane and hit him.

It was just devastating. Everything in my body just said this was so preventable. I was pregnant with Evie, the first grandchild that my dad never got to meet.

She loves to draw. And every day I think about my dad and how I imagine he would bring her into his workshop and invite her to work on a project with him.

I think he would have loved to do that.

(DESCRIPTION) [ON SCREEN TEXT] In Howard’s honor, we imagined his unfinished story.

(DESCRIPTION) [BUZZING CELL PHONE] A cell phone’s GPS buzzes and begins to recalculate. Driver reaches down and suddenly swerves away from the truck, just missing hitting it.

[ANIMATED SCENE] Man in workshop, sanding and looking into the yard with the swing he made for his

granddaughter. Howard walks out into the yard holding his granddaughter and puts her in the swing.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Let’s pass the time, me and you, you and me. Let’s pass the time just you and me. There’s never ever been two friends quite like we. Let’s pass the time, just you and me. We’ll go where the wind will take us. See what we can see. Let’s have adventures, you and me. You’re my best friend, and I’m yours too. Through thick and thin, whether it’s gray skies or blue. We’ve got a love, and it’s never going to end. You’re my best friend. Let’s be together me and you, you and me. Let’s be together, you and me. There’s no other place I know, that I would rather be. Let’s be together you and me. There’s no other place I know, that I would rather be. Let’s be together you and me. You’re my best friend.

(DESCRIPTION) [ANIMATED SCENE] Howard and his granddaughter in his workshop building together.

[ON SCREEN TEXT] Distracted driving takes the lives of 9 people each day. Leaving their stories unfinished. Howard Stein 1949 - 2011

(DESCRIPTION) Text, Let’s end distracted driving. Travelers Every Second Matters initiative logo. Travelers.com/distracteddriving

Tools and resources

Are you driving under the influence of your phone? Take this quiz to test your knowledge about distracted driving and your phone.

See how much distracted driving puts you and others on the road at risk.

Related reading

Driving with cell phone

Driver reaching into the backseat

Distracted driver

Collaborations

The Travelers Institute is pleased to join the Road to Zero Coalition in working to reduce traffic fatalities.

Road to Zero Coalition

Reducing distracted driving is a community effort, and we appreciate the organizations that have supported this initiative.

distracted driver

In the news

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Experts offer holiday season driving safety tips and reminders

Conversations Live with Cyrus Webb

Jessica Kearney and Jessica Cicchino discuss dangers of distracted driving

First Coast News

The hidden distractions putting drivers at risk

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