High Point Launches Free 'Get Home Safe' Program

Innovative Customer Benefit Can Save Lives

RED BANK, N.J., July 22 -- High Point Auto Insurance, a group of New Jersey car insurance companies, announced today that it is launching a free, first-in-the-industry customer safety benefit called Get Home Safe. Get Home Safe will offer High Point policyholders up to $50 for a free cab ride to get home safely by avoiding dangerous driving circumstances. The insurance carrier aims to take an active role in saving lives on New Jersey roads by preventing accidents, injury and death as a result of unsafe driving. The initiative is getting significant recognition from New Jersey non-profits and advocates for road safety and serious injury prevention.

"We are a special company made up of special people. Our customers are special too; they are part of our family, so of course we want to keep them safe," says Gerry Wilson, CEO. "Insurance companies generally go to work after the accident happens, but we're trying to stop accidents before they even happen. That's more than just insurance. If we can prevent even one accident or injury with this benefit, we'll consider this a big success," continued Wilson.

"We are excited about the Get Home Safe benefit not only because it is the first of its kind, but because it gives us the opportunity to show our customers how much we truly care about their safety," says President and COO Jim Tignanelli. "Customers who find themselves in an unsafe driving situation can take advantage of this free benefit simply by submitting their receipt from a cab or car service. High Point will reimburse them up to $50 as part of our Get Home Safe benefit," explained Tignanelli.

"There are a host of reasons why calling a taxi is a safer option than driving," says Marc V. Buro, President of High Point subsidiary company Teachers Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey. "Maybe you are just too tired to operate your vehicle safely, or your car is unfit to drive. Maybe you had one more glass of wine with dinner than expected. Get Home Safe makes it easier for policyholders to choose to travel safely, without worrying about the risk of driving or the cost of a cab."

"We hope that other insurance carriers replicate this offer for their policyholders because it's such a socially responsible program. It speaks to our mission of engaging individuals to create safer streets in our communities," says Tom Everson, Executive Director of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 , a national non-profit safety organization.

"In New Jersey alone, there are 1,800 traumatic brain injuries sustained in car crashes every year which lead to disability or death. Many of these crashes are attributed to falling asleep at the wheel, intoxication and distraction," said Wendy Berk of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey. "Some drivers don't consider the possibility of surviving with a traumatic brain injury after a collision, and choose to drive under unsafe circumstances. It's interesting to think about how many of these crashes could have been prevented with a free taxi ride."

"Every day, lives are permanently changed by injuries sustained in auto-related accidents. We applaud High Point for its Get Home Safe initiative; it is a concrete step toward making New Jersey's roads safer for everyone - drivers, passengers and pedestrians," said Ann Wilson, Director of the New Jersey Coalition for Prevention, an advocacy program that provides education about decreasing the incidence of traumatic injury and disabling conditions.

Auto insurance coverage is underwritten by High Point Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates, which is one of the largest auto insurance groups exclusively serving New Jersey customers. High Point Auto Insurance is a Plymouth Rock Managed Company. For more information, please visit www.highpointins.com.

Teachers Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey provides auto insurance exclusively to the faculty and staff (active and retired) of New Jersey licensed educational facilities. For more information, please visit www.nj-teachers.com.