Grange Insurance Video Tells Drivers to Put Away Their Smartphones

By Kasey Schefflin-Emrich
TMCnet Contributing Writer

Distracted driving is a major concern these days as cell phones are becoming more commonplace in our daily lives.

Grange Insurance has released a new video called "Put It Away" that encourages drivers to put away their mobile devices when behind the wheel.

It is the third video in its Insurance Made Simple series, which is intended to educate consumers    about insurance topics in a way that is easy to comprehend. The series revolves around helping consumers choose the right type of coverage, prevent claims, and stay safe.

Claiming the lives of more than 3,000 individuals in the United States each year, distracted driving consists of any activity that makes drivers take their eyes or mind off the road, as well as their hands off the steering wheel. It includes things such as eating and drinking, watching a video, adjusting a radio, and using a cellphone or smartphone and texting, with the latter being especially dangerous. That is because texting involves engaging the driver's visual, manual, and cognitive attention.

According to the National Safety Council, at least 28 percent of vehicle accidents are due to texting and using cell phones.

It has been found that anytime a person looks at their phone while driving they take their eyes off the road for an average of five seconds and results in them drifting out of their lane around 10 percent of the time.

In addition to combating distracted driving with the new video, Grange Insurance has also teamed up with WBNS-10TV to sponsor the Maria's Message campaign. The promotional campaign was created by the Columbus station to bring awareness to the issue of distracted driving after the daughter of 10TV Sports Anchor Dom Tiberi was killed in an accident involving the dangerous driving act.

"Distracted driving accidents are so tragic, yet preventable," John Ammendola, Grange chief property and casualty officer, said in a statement. "Through our 'Put it Away' video and agent co-op advertising campaign, we're working together with independent agents to build awareness on this important issue and, as a result, save lives."