Working toward a future where more autonomous vehicles are on the road, Allstate Insurance Co. this week announced a multi-year research agreement with the Intelligent Systems Laboratory at Stanford University, with a goal to help pave the way for safer roads.

“We are proactively embracing and participating in the evolving landscape around personal transportation through our work with world-class institutions at the forefront of this automotive revolution,” said Howard Hayes, Allstate’s senior vice president of product innovation. “We aim to learn about, and contribute to the algorithm research, software platforms and the datasets, tools and standards related to connected and autonomous vehicles.”

The research project scope includes machine learning, artificial intelligence and highly autonomous vehicle systems. Allstate, with a legacy of more than 85 years spent protecting drivers on the road, said it sees this as an opportunity to help shape the future of the insurance industry. Stanford Professor Mykel Kochenderfer will serve as the principal investigator during the three-year project.

“We see an autonomous vehicle future more as a matter of when, not if, and we want to be prepared to best serve our customers no matter who or what is behind the wheel,” said Allstate’s Director of Innovation and Research Sunil Chintakindi, who will lead the project for the insurer. “Allstate has long supported auto highway and safety reforms like seat belts, air bags and teen driver education. This is the logical next step as driverless technology continues to evolve.”