BLOOMINGTON, Ill.,
27
February
2020
|
10:30 AM
America/Chicago

State Farm Drives Technology and Transportation Conversation

Framing the Future of Mobility

Humans and vehicles. No matter how they interact, the end goal remains the same: Safely get from Point A to Point B. And, people and goods are moving in many ways today - whether it’s with a ride sharing company, train, scooter, or on foot.

“We need to think about the whole picture of keeping people safe,” says State Farm Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Research Laurel Straub. “While the conversation about the future of mobility focuses a lot on autonomous vehicles, people are using many modes of transportation today. As technology advances, we’re advancing right along with it to reduce the number of deaths caused by human error.”

The conversation involves many entities – public and private – coming together to understand the issues, collaborate on solutions and use resources wisely. State Farm is uniquely positioned to bring everyone to the table. As the nation’s largest P&C insurer, it covers the movement of goods, the individuals who move those goods and the vehicles who transport those goods.

“The intent is to start identifying the key public policy issues in the mobility and transportation space,” said Ryan Gammelgard, State Farm Public Policy Counsel. “We’re excited to convene and continue these conversations in order to create a framework that propels the transportation industry forward.”

Helping Illinois Build the Framework

Recently, one such event was held -- Framing the Future of Mobility for Illinois. Organized by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and the Illinois Autonomous Vehicles Association (ILAVA), more than 100 stakeholders attended at State Farm in Bloomington, IL.

“Technology is transforming mobility in exponential ways,” said Jerry Quandt, Executive Director, ILAVA. “Because many areas depend on mobility – including agribusiness, energy, information technology, manufacturing, transportation and logistics and small business, this topic is bigger than transportation. Innovation in mobility is an economic driver for our state, enabling industries and elevating citizens' quality of life. To make it work, there needs to be cooperation among public, private and academic entities.”

Mobility and Transportation at State Farm:

State Farm was founded on the revolutionary idea that farmers should have different rates of insurance than city drivers due to different risk. To advance safely into the future, State Farm teams up with many entities -- research, ongoing alliances with leading universities, car manufacturers and government bodies. This includes collaborating with the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) to test vehicle automation. Known as Mcity, the research conducted helps stakeholders understand the benefits and risks of connected and automated vehicles.

About State Farm®:

For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,400 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, lifehealth, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for rentersbusiness ownersboats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 44 on the 2023 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.

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