BRANCHVILLE, N.J. -

The 1,035 vehicle recalls reported in 2018 affected more than 35 million vehicles, and that number of recalls is an increase over last year, according to Selective Insurance Group, sourcing new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Selective Insurance Group, also sourcing information from the Consumer Federation of America, said in a news release that more than 70 million vehicles on U.S. roads are currently in need of safety recall repairs.

With those statistics in mind, Selective Insurance Company of America, the lead insurance company of Selective Insurance Group, is implementing proactive notifications using the company’s new Recall Alert System.  Selective is working with its independent insurance agency partners to ensure customers know about potentially dangerous recalls affecting their vehicles and personal safety.

Selective says its system helps reach all current owners of insured vehicles with open recalls. That, according to the company, bridges the gap from manufacturers who often do not have accurate contact information after a vehicle is sold privately. As part of Selective’s safety management services, the new Recall Alert System can identify and alert current owners of recalled vehicles within a week after the recall is added to the NHTSA system.

Selective sends e-mail alerts, in partnership with each customer’s agent, to commercial or personal auto customers whose vehicle make, model and model year match a NHTSA recall. Each alert includes a link to the NHTSA website showing customers any open recalls that specifically affect their vehicle or vehicles. In addition, a Selective product and vehicle recall website page includes resources such as a NHTSA VIN Lookup to help customers check for open recalls.

Selective chairman and chief executive officer Gregory Murphy said two key areas of insurance for customers are putting their lives back together after a tragic event and making communities safer through Selective programs.

“Through our Recall Alert System, we can swiftly and proactively communicate relevant messages with our customers to help them avoid potentially devastating results from safety hazards they have not yet addressed,” Murphy said.

In addition to vehicle recall alerts, Selective recently launched Selective Drive for commercial auto vehicle policyholders. The product, designed to help encourage safe driving behaviors, is a safety sensor that can monitor driving speed, location, idle time and harsh driving events involving acceleration, turning and stopping. The product detects distracted driving and identifies phone calls and other phone use while the vehicle is in motion.