The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc., will bring its Every Second Matters symposia series to Georgia State University. The event will feature a discussion on the role that work plays in distracted driving and what business owners can do to establish an effective driver safety program. The symposium will be held in collaboration with Sterling Seacrest Partners, Georgia State University Honors College, the National Safety Council, the Road to Zero Coalition and Gamma Iota Sigma fraternity (Zeta Chapter).

“Distracted driving is a risk that affects every member of our society,” said Brian Mixon, Middle Georgia Law Enforcement Liaison, Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Distracted drivers put themselves, their passengers and every person around them in danger. Every driver who makes a commitment to drive alert is a success and ultimately saves lives.”

A recent poll commissioned by Travelers, conducted online by Harris Poll among over 1,000 U.S. employees who drive, indicated that:

• Forty-three percent of respondents answer or make work-related communications while driving.

• Generation X (ages 35-44) respondents were just as likely as millennials (ages 18-34) to answer or make work-related communications while driving; over half of both generations (54 percent each) admitted to doing this.

“Technology can make our lives significantly easier in many ways, and the need to constantly feel connected is only going to increase as technology advances,” said Chris Hayes, Second Vice President, Transportation, Risk Control, Travelers. “But taking your eyes and concentration off the road is extremely dangerous, and businesses should be making their stance on that clear to employees. The Every Second Matters campaign provides a forum for discussing distracted driving trends and sharing driving tips not only for individual drivers, but also for creating a driver safety program in the workplace.”

“Distracted driving has a devastating impact on our communities,” said Doug Rieder of Sterling Seacrest Partners. “This program offers important insights and solutions for businesses and families. We are very excited to be partnering with the Travelers Institute and other thought leaders to bring light to this important issue.”

PGA TOUR professional golfer Rick Lamb and Joan Woodward, Executive Vice President of Public Policy at Travelers and President of the Travelers Institute, will discuss the importance of situational awareness, whether on the golf course or on the road. Woodward also will moderate a panel discussion, where she will be joined by Hayes; Jane Terry, Senior Director of Government Affairs at the National Safety Council; and Georgia State Rep. John Carson.