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GEICO: Don't make winter driving more hazardous by being distracted
[January 15, 2014]

GEICO: Don't make winter driving more hazardous by being distracted


WASHINGTON --(Business Wire)--

While this winter season is bringing snow and ice across the country, it's also giving drivers plenty of scenic photo and video opportunities.

Winter scenery may look fascinating, but GEICO advises drivers to stay focused on the roads, instead of being distracted by trying to take photos and videos while they're driving. If you see a great shot, pull over safely to get it.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is any activity that can divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving, including taking the hands off the wheel, eyes off the road and mind off driving. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also says that distractions can lead to "inattention blindness," where drivers fail to see or process details on the road, even when they're looking directly at them.

GEICO explains why it's so dangerous to drive distracted in its latest safety brochure, The Distracted Brain. This brochure covers different types of distractions and how researchers believe that multitasking while driving can lead to a slower response time and "inattention blindness."

In ddition to The Distracted Brain, GEICO provides a number of safety materials at no cost to families, law enforcement officials and state agencies at www.geico.com/auto/safety. To download The Distracted Brain brochure, please visit www.geicoteendriving.com.



Teen drivers are also reminded to not drive distracted while behind the wheel. Novice drivers are more likely to participate in risky behaviors, such as texting and talking on the phone, after several months of driving solo.* They are also more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash.

To bring further attention behind distracted driving, GEICO is asking students to help spread awareness by entering its Distracted Driving Music Video and T-shirt design Contest. Deadline for entries is Jan. 24. For more information, visit www.geicosafetycontest.com.


GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the third-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the United States. GEICO provides millions of auto insurance quotes to U.S. drivers annually. The company is pleased to serve more than 12 million private passenger customers and insures more than 18 million vehicles (auto & cycle).

*New study by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development


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