7 Fourth of July Road Safety Tips from OCTO and Together for Safer Roads
Busy holiday lands in the middle of 100 Deadliest Days
NEWTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#100DeadliestDays–Octo Telematics, the number one global provider of telematics and data
analytics solutions for the auto insurance industry, and Together for
Safer Roads (TSR), an innovative coalition that brings together global
private-sector companies to focus on improving road safety and reducing
deaths and injuries from road traffic collisions, are raising awareness
of the hazards that come from more teen drivers on the road, and
providing tips for safer driving over the popular Fourth of July
holiday. The holiday lands in the middle of the 100 Deadliest Days,
the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year that puts all
drivers at higher risk due to more teens behind the wheel. The time
period sees more crashes involving teen drivers, and more teens killed,
than any other time of year.
According to the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety, in the United States, the fatal crash
rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is nearly three times the rate
for drivers ages 20 and over. Risk is highest at ages 16-17. The World
Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road
Safety 2015 states that road crashes are the number one killer of
young people ages 15-29.
With more teens driving over the summer, much of the driving
recreational, and an increase in the number of passengers per vehicle –
increasing distractions – teens and other drivers are at an increased
risk for crashes. In addition, the Fourth of July holiday is one of the
deadliest holidays for drunk driving crashes, according to the U.S.
Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA).
In an effort to educate and combat these sobering statistics, Octo and
TSR, through the analysis of their own data and initiatives, share the
following seven important tips for safer holiday roads:
1. Slow down and stay back. Octo’s data indicates that teen
drivers tend to brake harder and speed more frequently than more
seasoned drivers. Hard braking can be attributed to tailgating, not
allowing enough time to gradually brake at stop signs and intersections,
or by simply not paying attention to surroundings. Drivers should leave
a “buffer zone” of at least one car length for every 10 MPH of speed
when following a vehicle.
2. Minimize distractions. This is especially crucial
during holidays when many pedestrians are on the road. Ask passengers to
be respectful and calm when you’re driving – the less distractions, the
better. Distractions can include eating, tending to a grumpy child, or
even applying makeup. People do a lot in their cars that should be done
only when safely parked or out of the vehicle. According to the Centers
for Disease Control, the U.S. saw an increase of nine percent in
vehicle-related mortality from 2011 to 2012. In that year alone, 3,300
deaths and 421,000 injuries were related to distracted driving.
3. Have a roadside assistance plan. Know what your
roadside assistance plan is – whether from an organization like AAA or
through your insurance telematics program – before hitting the road.
4. Line up sober transportation. If you are driving and
plan to drink even a little, consider alternative choices before
going out. Plan public transportation routes, download a rideshare app
such as Lyft, or identify restaurants in your area that participate in a
designated driver program.
5. Buckle up. Enough said.
6. Never text and drive. According to the report “A
Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Texting on Driving,” published in
Accident Analysis and Prevention, there is strong evidence that
distracted driving, including text messaging while driving, is linked to
crashes, deaths, and injuries on the road. If you have children, teach
them through example that texting while driving is never okay.
7. Consider a telematics program to improve driving. In
addition to possible insurance discounts for safer driving, Octo’s data
shows that 40% of drivers that use feedback from a telematics program –
such as usage-based insurance (UBI) – become better and safer drivers,
improving their driving score and practicing safer road habits after
only five weeks in a telematics program. If you already participate in a
telematics program, check on your risk events tips to understand how you
can improve safety habits.
“Octo is dedicated to working with organizations such as TSR to improve
road safety for all drivers through insightful data,” said Nino
Tarantino, North American CEO, Octo Telematics. “If we can help drivers
better understand the small tweaks they can make to have a significant
impact on saving lives, then we’ve made a positive difference toward
change. Be safe this holiday by heeding these simple tips.”
“As the world’s largest insurance telematics provider and long term road
safety advocate focused on creating better drivers, Octo Telematics
brings a unique perspective to the coalition alongside our other
members,” said Scott Ratzan, governing board member of Together for
Safer Roads and vice president of global corporate affairs at AB InBev.
“TSR aims to improve the safety of roads around the world, so that road
traffic crashes are no longer one of the leading causes of death and
injuries. Octo’s specific data and experience in this sector will
further that mission.”
About Octo Telematics
OCTO is the number one global provider of telematics and data analytics
solutions for the auto insurance industry. Founded in 2002, OCTO
pioneered the insurance telematics industry. Today, OCTO is the largest
and most experienced insurance telematics company in the world,
transforming auto insurance through behavioral, contextual and driving
analytics for more than 60 insurance partners. OCTO has more than four
million connected users and the largest global database of telematics
data, with over 100 billion miles of driving data collected and 250,000
crashes and insurance events analyzed. OCTO applies proprietary
algorithms to this market-leading database to deliver powerful new
insights into driver risk, informing solutions that benefit both auto
insurance companies and policyholders. The company is headquartered in
London, with offices in Boston, Rome, Stuttgart, Madrid, and San Paolo.
For more information:
- Website: www.octousa.com
-
Facebook: Octo
North America - Twitter: @octousa
- info@octousa.com
About Together for Safer Roads
Together for Safer Roads (TSR) is an innovative coalition that brings
together global private sector companies, across industries, to
collaborate on improving road safety and reducing deaths and injuries
from road traffic crashes globally. TSR brings together members’
knowledge, data, technology, and global networks to focus on five areas
that will make the greatest impact globally and within local
communities. These focus areas align with the United Nation’s Decade of
Action for Road Safety’s Five Pillars by developing programs to address
issues in road safety management, safer roads and mobility, safer
vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash response.
For more information:
- Website: www.togetherforsaferroads.org
- Facebook: togetherforsaferroads
- Twitter: @TSRCoalition
Contacts
PerkettPR for Octo Telematics North America
Christine Perkett,
+1-617-504-8687
cperkett@perkettpr.com
