Press/Media Kit

Distracted driving crashes kill more than 5,000 people a year. It’s time to do something to change that.

The Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation (“Arbella”) is taking the first step by creating Distractology 101. The free driving simulator tour, which is based on Arbella-funded research conducted with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, is designed to create a new generation of safe drivers. It will travel to select communities throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island to train new drivers on how to anticipate hidden hazards, react to the road and avoid accidents. 

Drunk driving was the first epidemic. Thanks to widespread education efforts, alcohol-related traffic fatalities have decreased nearly 50 percent since 1980. Arbella is using the same strategy to attack the distracted driving problem. Tough laws are important, but they alone won’t change behavior.

This program is part of our ongoing commitment to our customers, our agents and our community. If we save even one life, we’ve made a difference.

Media Contact Info:

Press Coverage: 

 

April 2013
	The Hartford Courant “READER SUBMITTED: Bearingstar Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101 Tour To E.O. Smith High School ” Mansfield-Storrs Patch “Bearingstar Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to E.O. Smith High School to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving ” New Haven Register “Seymour's message to student drivers: 'texting can wait' ” WTNH-TV News 8 “Teaching the dangers of distracted drivers ” Valley Independent Sentinel “Seymour High Hosts Distracted Driving Course ” The Patriot Ledger “Simulator training shows teens the perils of texting while driving ” Marshfield Mariner “Marshfield students focus on driving ” Milford Daily News “Driving simulator helps Hopedale students experience the dangers of driving while texting ” WMRC - Milford “Distractology 101 Tour Comes to Hopedale ” Reading Daily Times Chronicle “Reading students get a crash course on distracted driving ”
March 2013
	Reading Patch “Gilbert Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101 Tour to Reading to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving ” Canton Patch “Dowling Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101 Tour to Canton to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving ” Norton Patch “Ora A. Andrews Insurance Brings Distractology 10 Tour to Norton High School to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving ” Ipswich Chronicle “GALLERY: Distractology 101 ” Reading Advocate “RMHS students get crash course on distracted driving ” The Norton Mirror “Distractology 101 tour coming to Norton High ” The Norton Mirror “Driven to distraction at Norton High ” The Norton Mirror “Distractology 101 comes to Norton High [slideshow] ”
February 2013
	Hamilton-Wenham Patch “Five Things to Know on Feb. 4: Selectmen To Consider Code of Conduct ” Peabody Patch “Peabody CRAASH Talks Dangers of Distracted Driving ” Money Q&A &ldquoTen Ways To Break Your Texting While Driving Habit ” Easton Patch “Morse Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101 Tour to Easton to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving ” Easton Journal “Morse Insurance brings Distractology 101 to Easton ” Easton Patch “AROUND TOWN: Distractology at Oliver Ames ” Newton Patch “Aronson Insurance Continues to Educate Newton Teen’s on Dangers of Distracted Driving with Distractology 101 Tour ” Easton Journal “Easton teens get crash course in distracted driving ” Needham Patch “Aronson Insurance Continues to Educate Newton Teen’s on Dangers of Distracted Driving with Distractology 101 Tour ” WBZ-TV Channel 4 “'Distractology 101' Class Teaches Students Dangers Of Distracted Driving ” WBZ NewsRadio 1030 “'Distractology 101' Class Teaches Students Dangers Of Distracted Driving ”
January 2013
	Wakefield Patch “TGA Cross Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to the Pingree School to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving ” Hamilton-Wenham Patch “TGA Cross Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101 Tour to the Pingree School to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving ” Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle “Distractology 101 tour coming to Pingree ”
November 2012
	Milford Daily News “Milford students to experienced dangers of distracted driving ” Newton Patch “Mayor Warren Joins Newton North Students for ‘Distractology’ Safety Course ” NewTV “Newton News: Distracted Driving ” Milford Patch “The Bright Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Milford to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving ” MetroWest Daily News “Business Digest for Nov. 2: Newton to host distracted driving program ”
October 2012
	Newton Patch “Five Things You Need to Know Today: Oct. 30” WaylandENews.com “Chisholm Insurance Agency, Inc. Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Wayland to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving” Wayland Patch “Chisholm Insurance Agency, Inc. Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Wayland to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving” Wayland Town Crier “Opportunity for Wayland teens to learn about distracted driving” Newton Patch “Aronson Insurance Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Newton North High School to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving” Needham Patch “Needham-Based, Aronson Insurance Educates Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving” Dedham Transcript “Distractology 101 teaches young Dedham drivers to watch the road” Holliston Reporter “Distractology 101 Sells Out” Hingham Patch “McSweeney & Ricci Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Notre Dame Academy to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving” The Springfield Republican/MassLive.com “Westfield students get lesson in dangers of distracted driving” Holliston TAB “Course to show the dangers of distracted driving” MetroWest Daily News “Teen drivers to get education in distracted driving in Holliston” Accidents.com “Students in Massachusetts encouraged to take the distracted driving test” Holliston-Hopkinton Patch “Jensen-Sheehan Insurance Agency, Inc. Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Holliston to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving” Holliston Net News “Jensen-Sheehan Insurance Agency, Inc. Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Holliston to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving” Braintree Patch “Archies Students Turn Out For Texting While Driving Lessons” MetroWest Daily News “Class to help teens learn dangers of distracted driving” Boston.com “Distracted-driving simulator headed to Dedham next week” Minuteman Press “Simulator shows dangers of texting behind the wheel” Boston.com “In Braintree, students get lesson in distracted driving”
September 2012
	Braintree Patch “Dangers of Distracted Driving Simulated For Local Students” Dedham Patch “KW Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Dedham to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving” CBS 3 (Springfield) “Distractology 101 comes to Westfield” The Republican (Springfield)/MassLive.com “Distractology Auto Safety Program Comes to Westfield High” (video) The Republican (Springfield)/MassLive.com “Distractology Auto Safety Program at Westfield High” (photo slideshow) Andover Patch “Doherty Insurance Agency Brings Distractology 101™ Tour to Andover to Educate Teen Drivers on Dangers of Distracted Driving”
August 2012
	Stoughton Patch “5 Things, August 30: Teen Drivers to Get Crash Course on Distracted Driving This Week” Stoughton Patch “ABOUT TOWN: Distracted Driving Simulator Shows Perils of Texting, Taking Eyes off Road” Stoughton Patch “5 Things, August 27: Crash Course on Distracted Driving” Stoughton Patch “5 Things, August 24: Looking Ahead: Teen Drivers to Get Crash Course on Distracted Driving Next Week” CBS 3 (Springfield) “Distractology 101 Tour rolls into Feeding Hills” Stoughton Patch “Teen Drivers to Get Crash Course on Distracted Driving Thanks to Stoughton Insurance Agency” The Republican (Springfield)/MassLive.com “Business etc: Insurance firm to host interactive driving tests” Wicked Local Stoughton “Out and About: Aug. 11 - 22” Eagle Tribune “Merrimack Valley in a Minute” WGGB--ABC 40/Fox 6 (Springfield) “Distractology 101” WWLP-22 News - Western Mass (NBC) “Distractology 101: Real-life lessons on distracted driving” SouthCoastTODAY/Fall River Spirit “Simulator alerts teens to distracted driving dangers”
July 2012
	South Coast Today/The Fall River Spirit “Driving danger simulator to return to city” Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle/Wicked Local Wenham/Wicked Local Ipswich “OMG! TTYL This is dangerous students realize at Hamilton class” Boston.com (Beverly) “Local teens get crash-course in distracted driving” Worcester Telegram & Gazette “Simulator drives home text lesson” Hamilton-Wenham Patch “Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: July 23, 24, 25, 26, 27” Boston.com (Beverly) “Beverly insurance agency offers distracted driving course to teens and new drivers” Southbridge Evening News “‘Distractology’ tour sets record straight on careful driving: ‘This is about saving the lives of our kids’” Worcester Telegram “Mobile classroom brings lessons on distracted driving dangers to Sturbridge” Go Local Worcester “NEW: Realistic Simulations to Educate Teens on Distracted Driving” The Westfield News “Distractology 101” Wicked Local (Middleborough Enterprise) “Touring driving simulator nears end of its stay in Middleboro”
June 2012
	Beverly Chamber of Commerce News “Distractology 101 tour July 23rd-July 27th” Canton Journal “At Canton pitstop, young drivers learn the dangers of distracted driving” Stoughton Patch “Teen Drivers to Get Crash Course on Distracted Driving at Cobb's Corner” Canton Patch “Canton Teen Drivers To Get Crash Course on Distracted Driving” SouthCoastToday.com/New Bedford Chronicle “Kaplansky Insurance brings Distractology 101 tour to Fairhaven” WBSM-AM “Distractology 101 Simulator Tests Young Drivers” ABC 6 (Providence, RI) “Simulator shows teens the dangers of texting and driving” Cape Cod Times “Danger ahead: texting and driving” The Barnstable Patriot “A Driving Message”
May 2012
	Wicked Local (Allston/Brighton TAB): “Brighton high students put driving skills to the test with ‘Distractology 101’” WWLP: “Crash course on distracted driving” The Peabody Patch: “In Control: A Crash Course in Driving” The Barnstable Patriot: “A driving message”
April 2012
	Wicked Local (Mansfield): “Distractology 101 teaches safe driving to MHS students” MassLive.com: “Ideal Insurance to bring Arbella's "Distractology 101" safe driving course to Western Massachusetts” Concord Carlisle High School "The Voice": “Distractology 101: Distracted driving simulator at CCHS” The Concord Journal (Wicked Local): “Distracted driving training course comes to Concord-driving-training-course-comes-to-Concord” The Berkshire Eagle: “Teens use simulator to learn about distracted driving” WNYT.com: “Pittsfield students take part in Distractology 101” The Hartford Courant: “Distracted Driver Program Coming To East Catholic High School” The Windsor Locks Patch: “High School Students Witness Shattered Dreams Demonstration” ABC40/Fox 6 (Springfield)   “Virtual Driving Course at Ludlow Goes Beyond Driver’s Ed”  Wicked Local (Mansfield)  “Distractology 101 teaches safe driving to MHS students” MassLive.com   “Ideal Insurance to bring Arbella's "Distractology 101" safe driving course to Western Massachusetts”
March 2012
	The Gloucester Daily Times  “Business Briefcase: Arbella raises $62K for hunger relief” The Swampscott Patch  “Distractology Drives the Point Home” The Mansfield Patch  “Cavallo & Signoriello Insurance Brings Distractology to Mansfield High School” Mansfield News  “'Distractology' program coming to Mansfield High School” The Swampscott Reporter   “A crash course on distracted driving coming to Swampscott High School” The Lynn Daily Item   “Program offers tutorials on distracted driving for students”
February 2012
	Swampscott Patch   “Driven to Distraction No More” Mansfield Patch   “Mansfield High Students May have Distractology Simulator Lessons this March”
January 2012
	WWLP (Springfield)   “Texting and driving proving to be more dangerous” Mass Live Blog   “Alex Lyman: Distracted drivers get help”
October 2011
	The Peabody Patch  “Distractology 101: A Crash Course on Distracted Driving” The Peabody Patch   “Video: Don't Text and Drive” The Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog   “Distractology 101 and AAA Targets Distracted Driving Car Accidents in Massachusetts” The North Kingstown Patch   “Crash Course on Distracted Driving Visits NKHS” Wicked Local (Walpole)    “Distractology gives Walpole High students a crash course in texting while driving”
September 2011
	The Times  “Crash Course - Simulated test has a message for those who drive and text” The Call  “Crash Course - Simulated test has a message for those who drive and text” The Sakonnet Times   “Teen drivers take crash course at PHS” The Boston Business Journal   “Arbella Insurance and UMass: Partnering to drive out distractions on the road” The Herald News   “Crash course gets young drivers' attention” The Providence Journal   “Distractology 101 comes to Portsmouth” WPRI-Ch 12  “Young Drivers Schooled in Distraction” The Portsmouth Patch  “New Program Offers 'Crash' Course in Distracted Driving at Portsmouth High” EastBayRI.com  “Teen drivers take crash course at PHS” The Herald News   “OUR VIEW: Preventing 'sender benders' and 'snackcidents” Wicked Local (Somerset)  “Crash course gets young drivers' attention” Wicked Local (Fall River)  “Crash course gets young drivers' attention” Wicked Local (Westport)  “Crash course gets young drivers' attention” Providence Eyewitness News  “Young Drivers Schooled in Distraction” Wicked Local (Walpole)  “Walpole High School's newest class: Distractology 101”
August 2011
	Wicked Local (Danvers)  “Katrina Powell: Driving while 'intexticated'” UMass.edu  “Distractology 101 Covered by Globe and Channel 3” Milford Daily News  “Simulator helps teens see that texting and driving don't mix in Medway” The Sun Chronicle  “Text, crash, text, crash” The Northampton Stomp  “Distractology 101: Professor, insurance agency team to show danger of texting while driving” The Attleboro Patch  “Drivers Take Crash Course on Distractions [VIDEO]” The Natural Nutmeg Magazine  “August 2011 Issue: Pages 18-19” The Sun Chronicle  “Program targets young drivers” Wicked Local (Medway)  “Simulator helps teens see that texting and driving don't mix in Medway” Milford Daily News  “Teens can learn about distracted driving in Medway”
July 2011
	CBS 3 Springfield (WSHM )  “Simulator teaches young drivers about distracted driving” MassLive.com (The Republican)  “Distractology” MassLive.com (The Republican)  “Commentary: texting and driving is no laughing matter” Beverly Citizen  “Crash course on distracted driving comes to Beverly: Program to give teens, parents lessons on the dangers of multitasking” Boston.com  “Driving simulator course to teach Beverly teens about the dangers of distracted driving” Salem News  “Young drivers can experience the dangers of distraction in free simulation” Salem News  “WAIT, WAIT…CRASH!” Beverly Citizen  “Driving while intexticated: Beverly Citizen reporter takes a crash course on distracted driving” Malden Observer  “Teen Distractology 101 course comes to Malden July 18-22”
June 2011
	Norwood Bulletin  “Distractology 101 Van in Norwood” Norwood Bulletin  Distractology 101: Norwood teens learn dangers texting while driving WWLP  Teens learn about distracted driving Braintree Forum  ‘Distractology 101’ tour coming to Braintree in August
May 2011
	Martha’s Vineyard Community TV  “Channel 13 – Tank Talk – Distractology 101” Woburn Patch  “Dadgar Insurance Presents Distractology 101” Property Casualty 360  “Arbella's "Distractology 101" Shows Young Drivers Dangers of Distractions” Amherst Bulletin  “Around town: Bike Week features slate of events” Wareham Courier  “Teaching novices to drive without distraction” The Wanderer  “High-Tech Driving Simulator” The Martha’s Vineyard Times  “Young Martha’s Vineyard drivers learn about distractions” Woburn patch  “Driving Simulator Will Show Teens Hazards of Texting” TextKills.com  “Driving Simulator Will Show Teens Hazards of Texting” Woburn Advocate  “Distracted driving simulator coming to Woburn May 23-27” NECN  “Teens get crash course on distracted driving” The Wanderer  “Distractology 101 Educates, Informs” WSFB (CT) “Mobile Driving Simulator Heading to Farmington”  PropertyCasualty360 “Arbella's ‘Distractology 101’ Shows Young Drivers Dangers of Distractions”  Fox TV (CT) "Distracted Driving Simulator"
April 2011
	Taunton Daily Gazette “Learn about safe driving at "Distractology 101” The Patriot Ledger “Milton High to offer distracted driving course” Milton Patch “Milton High to offer distracted driving course” The Boston Globe “Milton High to offer ‘Distractology 101’ for young drivers” Fredericksburg.com “Virginia highway fatalities continuing to decline” ESPN.com “A very interesting series vs. Knicks” TomKileyLaw.com “Arbella Announces 2nd Year of Distractology 101” WGBH (Greater Boston) “A new way to educate teens about distracted driving” Suffield Patch “Company with Suffield Branch Named a Top Place to Work in CT” News-12 (NY) “Fairfield students get first-hand lesson on distracted driving” WABC-TV (NY) “Simulator shows texting while driving dangers to high school students” Minuteman News Center “Teens warned of dangers of distracted driving”
December 2010
	The Republican “'Crash Course' Teaches Lesson”   WWLP.com “UMass distracted driving lab gets grant”   CBS Channel 3 Springfield “UMass Simulators Work To Make Real World Roads Safer”   The Republican “Driving Distractology 101”   UMass Amherst “Demonstrations of ‘Distractology 101’ Driver Training Simulator and Naming Ceremony at UMass Amherst Lab on Dec. 10”   NECN “Teens get crash course on distracted driving”   The Daily Westborough “Distractology 101 allows students to see, first hand, the danger of driving while not completely focused on the road”   Wicked Local, Braintree “'Distractology 101' pays visit to BHS”
November 2010
	NECN “Teens get crash course on Distracted Driving”
September 2010
	The Holbrook Sun “Free ‘Distractology 101’ class to be offered to teens in Holbrook”   WGGB ABC 40 and Fox 6 Springfield “Driving Distractions Simulator”   YNN Albany “Program hopes to put the brakes on texting while driving among teens”   Patriot Ledger “COMMENTARY: Message lost if parents don’t back up new texting ban”   The Berkshire Eagle “OMG! I Just Wrecked My Car”
August 2010
	UMASS Amherst College of Engineering “Distractology 101 Draws More Media Attention”   The Herald News “OUR VIEW: Eyes on the road”   Waltham News Tribune “Teens crash and learn”   The Andover Townsman Online “Simulator shows dangers of distraction”   The Braintree Forum “Free ‘Distractology 101’ class offered to teens in Braintree”   Eagle-Tribune “Simulator course teaches teen drivers perils of text, talk at wheel”   The Boston Globe: Braintree “For drivers, 'Distractology 101' comes to town”   The Berkshire Eagle “'Distractology': Study in safety”   The Braintree Forum “Teens: beware toxic texting”   Wicked Local Weymouth “Teens: beware toxic texting”
July 2010
	The Brockton Enterprise “Touring driving simulator nears end of its stay in Middleboro”   The Sentinel and Enterprise “Could you be among those driving while distracted?”   Leominster Champion “Distractology is nothing to LOL about”   The Herald News “DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION: Simulator warns teens about distracted driving”   South Coast Today “Simulator drives home risks of distraction”   WPRI.com  Eyewitness News “Scaring you out of texting-and-driving”
May 2010
	UMASS Amherst News “Today Show Covers MIE’s Distractology 101”   The Boston Globe “An arresting night for a good cause”   Taunton Daily Gazette “Texting while driving simulator aims to save lives”   WJAR-TV “Simulator illustrates dangers of distracted driving”   Taunton Daily Gazette “Course teaches the dangers of ‘distracted driving’”   The Easton Journal “Distracted driving simulator coming to Easton”   MAIA Property and Casual Speaking Blog “Exploring the Hazards of Distracted Driving in Massachusetts”   Fox News Channel “Driving Simulator Aims to Save Lives”
April 2010
	The Boston Globe “Driving without distractions”   Insurance NewsNet “Arbella Unveils Distractology 101(TM) Tour”   WCVB-TV “Simulator Teaches Lessons On Distracted Driving”   Reuters “Crash course takes on deadly distracted driving”   National Post “Mobile classroom aims to teach teens about the dangers of texting and driving”   The Patriot Ledger “Quincy insurer Arbella targets teen drivers with training device”   TeensAgainstDistractedDriving.com “Arbella Unveils Distractology 101™ Tour | Teens Against Distracted Driving”   Edmonton Journal “Distractology 101 Tries to Steer Teenagers Toward Safer Driving Practices”   Consumer Reports Cars Blog “Simulator to deter teens from driving distracted”   WWLP.com “Simulating distracted driving”   “Today” “Vieira tested in Distractology 101”   The Boston Globe “"Today" host Meredith Viera swears on national TV   The Huffington Post “Meredith Vieira Says ‘Oh Shit!’ on ‘Today’ Show”   Newsbusters.org: "Meredith Vieira Says "Oh S--t on Today Show"   BreitBart TV “‘Oh S***’: Meredith Vieira Drops S-Bomb During Live ‘Today’ Show Segment”

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