State-of-the-Art, Mobile Simulator Arriving in Quincy -- High-Tech Experience Will Give Teens Real-Life Lessons on Distracted Driving

Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation Using 36-Foot-Long Mobile Classroom and High-Tech Driving Simulations to Help Keep New Drivers Safe Behind the Wheel


QUINCY, MA--(Marketwire - April 15, 2010) -  Attacking the serious problem of distracted driving, which kills 6,000 people each year, Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation will unveil a 36-foot-long, neon-yellow mobile classroom, outfitted with state-of-the-art, high-tech driving simulators, to give new drivers a real-life look at the dangerous effects of driving while distracted. You're invited to come check it out for yourself. 

WHAT: The Distractology 101 mobile classroom arrives in Quincy. Teens will climb on board to try their hands at the high-tech driving simulators. They'll use cell phones as they attempt to navigate a simulated road course while multi-tasking. Reporters are welcome to try it as well.
   
WHEN: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
  10:30 a.m. EDT remarks, followed by ribbon cutting and simulator demonstrations
   
WHERE: Arbella Insurance Group headquarters parking lot
  1100 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, MA 02169
   
WHO: Participants will include:
   
 
  • Teen drivers and their parents
 
  • John Donohue, chairman, president and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group and chairman and president of the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation
 
  • Dr. Donald L. Fisher, professor and department head at the College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and national expert on distracted driving
 
  • Barbara Anthony, undersecretary, Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation
 
  • Mayor Thomas P. Koch, City of Quincy
 
  • Joseph G. Murphy, Commissioner, MA Division of Insurance
   
WHY: Education, including simulated experiences with distracted driving, is the first step in saving lives and creating a new generation of safe drivers.
   
HOW: After completing six distracted driving scenarios in the mobile classroom, teens are asked to complete the online portion of the Distractology 101 curriculum. At www.DistractU.com, they'll take a reinforcement training lesson and a safe driving pledge to complete the training. The Web site also has general information and a "distract-o-meter challenge" quiz.

About the Arbella Insurance Group and the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation

Established in 1988, the Arbella Insurance Group (www.arbella.com) is a company with over $600M in revenue with approximately $1B in assets, headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. 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.

Contact Information:

For more information:
Amy Erickson
Greenough Communications
617-275-6512 or 617.981.2236 (mobile)