Insurance Provider Launches Telematics App to Boost Safe Driving

The stakes are high: CMT notes that distracted driving is a leading factor of trips that result in an accident, as drivers who use a smartphone behind the wheel are 3.4 times more likely to be involved in a crash. Traffic fatalities continue to increase nationwide, spiking six percent since 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA). Massachusetts reported a 13 percent increase with 389 deaths in 2016; more than double the national rate.

“It’s clear from the data that distracted driving continues to be a dangerous epidemic,” said John Donohue, chairman, president and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group and chairman of the Arbella Insurance Foundation. “The technology behind Wheel Focused™ has a compelling track record of improving driver behavior and we’re proud to bring this cutting-edge solution to New England.”

Wheel Focused™ utilizes CMT’s award-winning platform, DriveWell, a complete telematics and behavioral analytics solution, that includes battery-efficient drive detection, an industry-leading data collection and processing engine and big data analytics. The app provides feedback to drivers on five metrics: rapid acceleration, hard braking, sharp turns, speeding and phone distraction. Wheel Focused™ logs trips while in the background of a phone, providing the driver with feedback after the trip is completed, as well as helpful tips to improve safety.

“Smartphone telematics programs advance driver behavior better than any other option available,” said Hari Balakrishnan, chief technology officer at CMT. “The feedback and gamification opportunities that smartphones provide help engage users and encourage them to make better decisions behind the wheel. Through this partnership with Arbella, we will improve driver behavior and ultimately make our roads safer.”