Anti-distracted driving program trained 20,000 new drivers in New England over 11 years
December 9, 2020
AMHERST, Mass. After 11 successful years, the Arbella Insurance Foundation is announcing the retirement of the Distractology program, one of the first programs in the country to use simulated driving scenarios to educate young drivers about the dangers of driving while distracted.
The program featured a mobile classroom outfitted with two high-tech driving simulators designed to give new drivers the chance to experience the perils of distracted driving. Arbella worked in tandem with researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Jack Morton Worldwide to develop the simulators. Simulations were based on real-world examples, including having the student text, post to social media sites, or change the radio while navigating residential and highway conditions. After running the program for 11 successful years, Arbella chose to retire it and move on to the ne