February 28, 2013
NJM Commemorates
Centennial with "DNT TXT N DRV" Campaign
In honor of its
100th anniversary, the state's
largest auto insurer, New Jersey
Manufacturers Insurance Company
(NJM), is dedicating its Centennial
year to improving driver, passenger
and pedestrian safety, starting with
a "DNT TXT N DRV" (Don't Text and
Drive) campaign.
During 2013, NJM is celebrating its
100th year of service to the Garden
State. The Company was founded on
June 7, 1913.
The Company is
urging the drivers of the 800,000
vehicles it insures, as well as all
other motorists, to take an online
pledge to do something it expects
their own, safety conscious
policyholders already do — refrain
from reading or writing text
messages while driving. For every
pledge that is executed, NJM will
donate $1 to one of five New
Jersey-based charities, up to
$50,000.
"NJM was founded in 1913 on the
principle of safety in the
workplace," said Bernie Flynn,
President and CEO. "As we've evolved
into New Jersey's largest insurer,
that same foundational emphasis on
safety applies to our roadways.
Today, one of the greatest dangers
facing our policyholders is
distracted driving. For the safety
of our loved ones, NJM urges all
motorists to never read or write
text messages while driving."
For every pledge
during 2013, NJM will donate $1, up
to a total of $50,000, to benefit
equally five important New Jersey
specific non-profit organizations:
Make-A-Wish New Jersey; The
Community Food Bank of New Jersey;
Autism New Jersey; Special Olympics
New Jersey; and the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society - NJ
Metro Chapter.
NJM's campaign to
collect pledges will be promoted by
these non-profit organizations, by
the 55 high schools throughout New
Jersey participating in the
"Champion Schools" driver safety
program that is sponsored in part by
NJM, and by NJM's 100-year partner,
the New Jersey Business & Industry
Association, which will send the
word to its 21,500 member companies
and their more than 1 million
employees.
Thirty-nine
states, including New Jersey,
prohibit text messaging while
driving.
Nationally (in
2011), 3,331 people were killed in
crashes involving a distracted
driver, compared to 3,267 in 2010.
An additional 387,000 people were
injured in motor vehicle crashes
involving a distracted driver,
compared to 416,000 injured in 2010.
"The statistics
are sobering," said Flynn. "Despite
state laws, texting while driving is
still pervasive, and law enforcement
alone cannot stop it. NJM's campaign
is an effort to do our part to
increase awareness and help change
our culture, so that drivers
appreciate how important it is to
pay attention to the road. The text
can wait."
New Jersey
Manufacturers Insurance Company was
incorporated by factory owners who
needed workers' compensation
insurance from a reliable, local,
safety-oriented carrier. The Company
still writes nearly all of its
business in New Jersey. NJM has
earned high marks in published
surveys, particularly regarding
customer and claims service in auto
insurance.
NJM writes
coverage directly for consumers
without the expense of agents'
commissions and has paid $5.0
billion in dividends to
policyholders since 1918.
To be eligible
to apply for NJM Workers'
Compensation, Auto or Homeowners
insurance, applicants must be a
member company of the NJBIA or an
employee of a member company. New
Jersey State employees are also
eligible to apply for Auto,
Homeowners and Umbrella insurance.
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