News releases from Impact 50 companies -- those public companies with the most impact in Rhode Island -- who subscribe to PR Newswire.

MetLife Auto & Home(R) Offers Free Brochures to Help Reinforce Safe Driving Basics

WARWICK, R.I., Nov. 20 -- In recent months, there's been a great deal of attention paid to the issue of texting while driving, and with good reason: keeping your eyes on the tiny keyboard in front of you instead of the highway ahead is a sure way to head down the road to disaster. It's also an increasing threat in this digital age. Unfortunately, texting is just the latest in a long line of distractions that are having deadly consequences on America's roadways--with over 37,000 lives tragically lost each year.

"Distracted driving is increasingly having an impact on lives lost and property damaged," said Bill Moore, president of MetLife Auto & Home. "Safe driving is really about focus. Every day, our Claim Department receives reports of claims that could have been avoided, had the basic principles of defensive driving and driver attentiveness been observed."

To help avoid being "driven to distraction," MetLife Auto & Home reminds consumers to ask the following questions, when behind the wheel:

For additional information, MetLife Auto & Home offers free brochures: "Driving While Distracted: Be a Safer Driver," containing additional information on the subject; and "In the Driver's Seat: About Driving Safely," a 12-page booklet containing information on safe driving basics, including defensive driving tips, the facts on cell phone usage, and what to do in the event of a car breakdown or accident. Both are available by calling 1-800-638-5433 (MET-LIFE).

The MetLife Auto & Home companies, subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. , are collectively one of the nation's leading personal lines property and casualty insurance providers, insuring over 3.8 million autos and homes. Their affiliate, MetLife(R), is a leading provider of insurance and financial services with operations throughout the U.S. and Latin America, Europe, and Asia's Pacific regions. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.

MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates, Warwick, RI.

CONTACT: Ted Mitchell of MetLife, Inc., +1-401-827-3236

Web site: http://www.metlife.com/