The Insurance Record - November 3, 2011

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Americans Place Higher Value on Convenience Features Than on Safety Technology

WARWICK, R.I.—Has modern technology made our roadways safer? The majority of Americans believe cars are safer today than they were 10 years ago but feel that technological innovations have failed to make people safer drivers. In fact, according to the new MetLife Auto & Home American Safety Pulse Poll, fully 85% of Americans believe cars are safer today, but just 29% think technology innovations have translated into making people safer drivers, and nearly two-thirds (63%) of Americans believe that today’s drivers rely too heavily on technology features to operate their vehicles.

The survey also suggests that many people are not necessarily making wise decisions when it comes to evaluating the importance of different technology features, with Americans favoring increased convenience over driver and passenger safety. To voice your opinion, join the conversation on MetLife’s Facebook page.

“Auto manufacturers have made sig-
nificant strides with regard to safe-
ty innovations over the past 10 years
— but the ultimate safety feature is
an alert and prepared driver,” said Bill
Moore, president of MetLife Auto &
Home. “Technology advancements
have greatly improved the comfort
and safety of cars, but overreliance on
these features can be dangerous – driv-
ers need to remember that it’s still up
to them to operate their vehicles in a
safe and responsible manner.”

Too Distracted by Gadgets? Although Americans clearly care about safety, the results of the survey suggest that respondents display a significantly higher level of familiarity with con-venience-oriented features than with those devoted to car safety.

;; ;;; ;; ;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;; ;;;;;; ;;;; or somewhat familiar with GPS devices, which can make it easier to find your destination but can take your attention off the road.

;; ;;; ;; ;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;; ;;;;;; very or somewhat familiar with Bluetooth-style accessories, which can make taking calls in your car easier, but the conversation can still be just as distracting.

;; ;;; ;; ;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;; ;;;;;;;;; they were very or somewhat familiar with in-car social networking, only recently released in certain car models– a number that increased to 40% among younger Americans (aged 18-34).

Clueless on Safety Features
In contrast, when asked about their
familiarity with more safety-oriented
features — some of which have been
available for several years — consis-
tently fewer than half reported that
they were very or somewhat familiar
with various technologies.

;; ;;;; ;;;; ;;;; ;;;;; ;; ;;;;;;- dents were very or somewhat familiar with electronic stability control, one of the most significant safety advancements in recent years, which helps improve steering and prevent rollover accidents. Almost continued on page 15