Holiday Travel: Share Simple Steps to Prevent Dangerous Driving, Help Save Five Lives on ‘Drive Safer Sunday’

Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance Encourage Drivers to Buckle Up, Slow Down and Stay Alert the Sunday After Thanksgiving

ATLANTA, GA. and ST. LOUIS, MO. (Nov. 13, 2007) This holiday season, Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance urge people to help Save Five Lives on Drive Safer Sunday, a national observance falling on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel days of the year. As millions of drivers make their way home or back to school from holiday gatherings, both organizations encourage drivers to send a caring reminder to friends and loved ones to take extra precautions during this hectic time: Buckle up, slow down and stay alert.

Drive Safer Sunday was created in honor of Cullum Owings, a 22-year-old college student who tragically lost his life when a speeding tractor-trailer hit the back of his stopped car. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2002, Cullum and his brother Pierce were returning to Washington and Lee University after a visit home for the holidays. A few miles from campus, the boys were struck from behind by a tractor-trailer speeding on cruise control. Pierce survived; Cullum died before rescuers could free him from the wreckage.

In the midst of their heart-wrenching loss, Steve and Susan Owings co-founded Road Safe America, a non-profit organization that focuses its efforts on making the highways safer by reducing the number of collisions between large trucks and passenger vehicles. Currently, it is working in conjunction with many of the major trucking companies to achieve a national rule requiring operational speed governors in large trucks, limiting them to 68 miles an hour, with serious consequences for violators.

Spread the Word, Help Save Five Lives

On the fifth anniversary of the Owings tragedy, Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance encourage people to visit www.drivesafersunday.org and help Save Five Lives. There, they can enter the email addresses of five or more loved ones to pass along safe-driving tips with a personalized note. The site also offers resources for more information about Drive Safer Sunday, the latest roadway facts and figures and ways to help save lives this holiday season and throughout the year. Whats more, it calls attention to some of the most dangerous driving behaviors: fatigue, distraction, failure to fasten seatbelts, speeding and tailgating.

To keep travels safe, fun and full of great memories, Drive Safer Sunday encourages people to be particularly cognizant of driving safely on an extremely congested day, said Road Safe America Co-founder Steve Owings. By sending simple safety tips to our friends and loved ones, we can save lives this holiday season and throughout the year.

To spread this message, Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance are launching a national public safety ad campaign expected to reach upwards of 100 million Americans. The campaign features radio, print and theater ad spots, which will run in the days leading up to and on Drive Safer Sunday, reaching people in their homes, work places and, most importantly, while theyre traveling on the roads.

We all need to do our part to make our roads safer, said Gary Kusumi, president and CEO, GMAC Insurance. While following safe driving protocols yourself is critical, its equally important to remind friends and loved ones of the simple safety measures they can take to stay safe and save lives.

Tips to Prevent Dangerous Driving Behaviors

Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance have identified the following as some of the most dangerous driving behaviors and offer easy-to-follow tips to prevent them:

1. Fatigue

• Driving Tip: Take a Break to Stay Awake. Approximately 130 million Americans admit they would drive more than seven hours in one day without significant breaks, according to a recent GMAC Insurance survey. Be sure to plan ahead before trips, be fully rested and take breaks often to stay alert.

2. Distraction

• Driving Tip: When You Turn the Car On, Turn the Gadgets Off.

Many people treat driving as the new down time, according to results from the 2006 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. No matter how busy your day is, when youre on the road, focus only on driving.

3. Failure to Fasten Seatbelts

• Driving Tip: Restrain Yourself. More than half (55%) of passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 were unrestrained, according to the 2006 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Annual Assessment of MotorVehicle Crashes. Always wear your seatbelt and make sure any children in the vehicle are properly restrained for their age, height and weight requirements.

4. Speeding

• Driving Tip: Put Safety Before Speed. According to NHTSA, the percentage of speeding-related fatalities among overall fatalities increased in 2006 for the first time after remaining unchanged for three years. Remember when driving this holiday season: its more important to get there safely than to get there quickly.

5. Tailgating

• Driving Tip: Count One Thousand One, One Thousand Two. Leave a two-second cushion between you and the vehicle ahead it could save your bumper and your life. When following a tractor-trailer, allow even more time to pass.

To do your part and to learn more about Drive Safer Sunday, visit www.drivesafersunday.org and www.roadsafeamerica.org.

Road Safe America is working to make our highways safer by reducing the number of collisions between large trucks and passenger vehicles. Many trucks travel at dangerously high speeds, making it impossible for them to stop safely in an emergency. Road Safe America is working in conjunction with many of the major tracking companies toward a national rule that requires operational speed governors in trucks, limiting them to 68 miles an hour, with serious consequences for violators. Passenger vehicles are responsible for many tractor-trailer accidents, as well. Therefore, Road Safe America also works to educate the driving public on how to safely share the road with large trucks.

The GMAC Insurance Group is one of the largest automobile insurers in the United States and is a wholly owned subsidiary of GMAC Financial Services. GMAC Insurance Personal Lines offers a variety of property and casualty products, including personal auto, RV, motorcycle, commercial auto and homeowners insurance. With a nationwide network of claims professionals, local independent agents and a 24-hour, toll-free claims hotline available 365 days a year, GMAC Insurance provides superior claims service for its customers.