Travelers Risk Index Reveals Work-Related Pressures May Contribute to Distracted Driving
March 30 2022 - 9:19AM
Business Wire
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) today announced the
results of the 2022 Travelers Risk Index on distracted driving,
revealing that dangerous behaviors continue on U.S. roadways.
Despite one-third of respondents stating that their own driving has
improved over the past couple years, most admitted to making phone
calls and reading text messages while behind the wheel.
“This year’s findings expose a gap between people’s perception
that they can drive safely while using their smartphone and the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, which shows a
20% increase in car crashes and fatalities since the pre-pandemic
levels of 2019,” said Michael Klein, Executive Vice President and
President of Personal Insurance at Travelers. “We all play a role
in helping to address this public health crisis; it’s imperative
that we simply silence our phones while driving and stay focused
behind the wheel.”
The Travelers Risk Index results suggest that work-related
pressure might lead to distracted driving. The majority of business
managers (86%) expect employees to respond to work-related
communications at least sometimes while outside the office during
work hours. One-third expect employees to answer or participate in
work calls while driving.
Such expectations may contribute to the 42% of respondents who
say they take work-related calls, texts or emails while driving.
When asked why, 43% of those respondents state that it might be a
work-related emergency, 39% feel they always need to be available,
and 19% say their boss will be upset if they don’t answer.
Distracted drivers are more likely to correct their behavior
when passengers speak up, according to the Travelers Risk Index.
Eighty-seven percent of respondents who use a phone while driving
said they would be less likely to do so if a passenger mentioned
it. However, the likelihood of passengers speaking up was dependent
on who the driver was. For instance:
- 44% of respondents would speak up to a friend or family member
if they were driving distracted.
- Only 11% would speak up to a coworker.
- Just 7% would say something to their rideshare driver.
The use of driver assistance technologies in vehicles is further
complicating the issue of driver distraction, a topic that will be
discussed at Travelers Institute’s virtual event today at 1 p.m.
EDT. To learn more about the event, visit the Travelers Institute
website.
For more information about the Travelers Risk Index and ways to
reduce distracted driving, please visit Travelers.com.
About the Travelers Risk Index
In January 2022, Hart Research conducted a national online
survey of 1,000 consumers, ages 18 to 69, regarding their
perceptions and behaviors related to distracted driving.
Separately, Hart surveyed 1,000 executives from businesses of all
sizes. Both surveys were commissioned by Travelers.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider
of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A
component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has
approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of
approximately $35 billion in 2021. For more information, visit
Travelers.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220330005565/en/
Media: Sperry Mylott, 860.277.5075
smylott@travelers.com
Kate Thermansen, 860.954.1789 ktherman@travelers.com
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