High Point offering taxi ride refunds to promote safe driving

High Point Auto Insurance is offering a free customer safety benefit that pays for policyholders to take a taxi rather than drive under dangerous conditions.
The “Get Home Safe” program enables High Point policyholders to get a refund on a $50 or less cab fee one time before Dec. 31. This offer can be used when policyholders are too tired to drive, consumed too much alcohol, do not have a functional vehicle or need to avoid any other unsafe driving conditions, according to the Red Bank, N.J.-based company.
Auto insurer High Point is managed by Plymouth Rock Assurance, whose total companies represent more than $1 billion in premiums. The company insures more than 430,000 families in New Jersey, along with its Plymouth Rock affiliates.
“Insurance companies generally go to work after the accident happens, but we’re trying to stop accidents before they even happen,” said Gerry Wilson, High Point CEO, in a statement. “That’s more than just insurance. If we can prevent even one accident or injury with this benefit, we’ll consider this a big success.”
There are 1,800 traumatic brain injuries annually resulting from car crashes, many of which are caused by exhausted, intoxicated or distracted drivers, according to Wendy Berk of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey.
“Every day, lives are permanently changed by injuries sustained in auto-related accidents,” said Ann Wilson, Director of the New Jersey Coalition for Prevention, an advocacy program that provides education about decreasing the incidence of traumatic injury and disabling conditions. Get Home Safe “is a concrete step toward making New Jersey’s roads safer for everyone – drivers, passengers and pedestrians,” she said.


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Nationwide Insurance Supports National Ban on Texting While Driving

COLUMBUS, Ohio - (Business Wire) Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company today stated its support for the enactment of a national ban on texting while driving.
In Washington D.C., United States Senators Chuck Schumer, D-New York; Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey; Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana; and Kay Hagan, D-North Carolina, on Wednesday unveiled the ALERT Act, which would prohibit any driver from sending text or e-mail messages while driving a vehicle. If the bill passes, states that do not enact text-banning laws could lose 25 percent of their federal highway funds.

While Nationwide is still exploring the details of this particular legislation, Nationwide supports the concept of a national ban on texting while driving as an integral part of the solution.

“There is a growing body of research and evidence that suggests a ban on texting while driving will save lives and make our roads a safer place to drive,” said Bill Windsor, Nationwide’s Safety Officer. “Nationwide believes we can save lives by finding solutions to the problem through legislation, public awareness and encouraging the development of new technology. In addition to saving lives, fewer crashes could result in lower auto insurance costs.”

While passage of legislation is a good start, Nationwide has taken the strong public position that technology will play an important role in effectively changing behavior behind the wheel. In early 2008, Nationwide began working with Aegis Mobility on a new, cell-phone based technology that will have a positive impact on reducing TWD crashes by advising callers and texters that the individual they are trying to reach is driving. Nationwide will be offering a discount for individuals that sign up for the DriveAssist™ program when it becomes available.

Nationwide has been working to draw attention to the emerging and dangerous social trend of Texting While Driving (TWD) for the past several years. A 2008 study by Nationwide of more than 1,500 Americans revealed that 18 percent of those surveyed admitted to TWD – that number jumps to 39 percent for drivers under 30 years old.


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