Markel American Insurance Co. is introducing the Safe And Friendly Environment (SAFE) program, which is designed to reward participant safety at poker runs and other similar events.

Markel, which insures high-performance boats, said the program stresses the importance of approaching poker runs and similar events with a conscious focus on safety.

“Safety doesn’t happen by accident,” said Thomas Conroy, marine director for Markel American Insurance Co. “That’s why we’re implementing the SAFE program to stress the importance of approaching a poker run with a conscious focus on safety.”

The program will provide a SAFE award for the participant and crew that best illustrates adherence to guidelines set forth by the organization, such as maintaining appropriate speed and distance.

“Markel’s SAFE Award Program is vital to the preservation of performance boating and we certainly appreciate and value the leadership Markel has demonstrated,” said Brad Schoenwald, who is the safety director of the Florida Powerboat Club and a member of Tres Martin’s Performance Boat School.

“It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to align in altruistic cross-supportive efforts such as Markel’s SAFE Award Program. All of our independent entities rely upon each other’s survival and we rise to applaud Markel’s leadership. We look forward to future combined efforts to promote safety and remove risk from pleasure-boating events.”