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Teen Driving: Allstate "Reality Rides℠" Tour Merges Virtual Technology and Driving to Combat Distractions on the Road

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0500

New 2013 national campaign will visit more than 20 cities across America
This release contains: 4 Videos, 1 Photo, 2 Related Documents

Allstate Insurance Company will build upon its efforts to bring awareness around distraction-free driving with a new national campaign tour, called "Reality Rides℠." Allstate Reality Rides will travel to more than 20 American cities to bring a driving simulator that demonstrates the dangers of distracted driving. From community events to high school assemblies and safe driving advocacy programs, Reality Rides will tour a variety of venues in an effort to reach a wide range of drivers.

"The Allstate Reality Rides tour is an innovative, engaging approach to raising awareness about the importance of distraction-free driving," said Sanjay Gupta, executive vice president of marketing, innovation and corporate relations at Allstate Insurance Company. "We'll be going to communities across the country to gain awareness about the dangers of cell phone use and texting behind the wheel. Advocating for driver safety is an important part of Allstate's legacy and this outreach effort will build on our commitment to keep our kids and all drivers safer on the roads."

Reality Rides consists of a driving simulator that utilizes a real - but stationary - vehicle equipped with virtual reality technology, including a headset that displays an animated environment and reacts to the driver's motions. Using the car's steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, the driver is tasked with driving while also attempting to text and talk on the phone.

These simulations demonstrate the potential consequences distracted drivers could face while on the road. To add impact to the simulations, participants are given traffic "tickets" that reveal potential infractions a driver could receive if the experience happened in real life. Participants will also have the opportunity to take the Allstate X the TXT™ pledge that promises to not text and drive.

Allstate continues to advocate for distracted driving prevention because in 2010 and 2011 more than 3,000 deaths from crashes with a distracted driver occurred each year. Studies have shown drivers who text are 23 times more likely to crash, and texting while driving is the equivalent to driving impaired after drinking four beers.

Car crashes are the number one cause of death for everyone in the U.S. ages 1-34, with teens crashing four times more often than any other age group. Stronger teen driving laws, referred to as Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), have been shown to reduce traffic fatalities by as much as 40 percent in the states where they have been adopted. Additionally, recent research from The Allstate Foundation's License to Save report found that comprehensive GDL laws could save an estimated 2,000 lives and $13.6 billion annually.

To track the Allstate Reality Rides tour and see photos of participants, visit facebook.com/xthetxt. While there, check out information and resources, engage in the conversation and invite family and friends to take action in support of stronger teen driving laws.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate®, and are widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." As part of Allstate's commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $29 million in 2012 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.

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Contact:

Kari Mather
847-402-5600
kari.mather@allstate.com

Kate Hollcraft
847-402-5600
kate.hollcraft@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Prom and Graduation Are Just Around the Corner

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:30:00 -0500

What You Can Do To Help Your Teenager Make It Home Safely
This release contains: 1 Video, 1 Photo, 1 Related Document

When it comes to driving, teenagers are already four times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident, prone to distractions and poor judgment at a greater level than more experienced drivers. Adding the dynamics of prom nights and graduation celebrations to the mix only increases the risks, leaving nervous parents hoping that their children can celebrate safely and responsibly.

While all parents want their child to enjoy these once-in-a-lifetime events, it's important to take preventive measures to ensure children's safety during these high-risk times.

"The risk for teens is heightened during celebrations such as prom and graduations," says Vicky Dinges vice president of corporate social responsibility at Allstate. "Increased distractions like boisterous passengers, music, food, drink, nighttime visibility, and general excitement can divert a young driver's attention from the road, and that could lead to dangerous and even fatal consequences."

Statistics show that, under normal circumstances, the fatal crash rate for teens is four times that for older drivers. And according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash; this age group had the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.

For those reasons, Allstate Insurance Company offers the following tips as prom and graduation season approach:

Plan an alternate source of transportation - arrange for a cab or a limousine.
Limit the number of passengers in your teenager's car - more passengers create more potential distractions for the driver.
Prohibit driving under the influence - underage drinking and driving is against the law. Make it clear to your teens that if they drink or use drugs, driving privileges will be revoked.
Establish an SOS - teens make mistakes and sometimes get themselves into dangerous situations. Make sure your teens have a responsible adult they can call if they feel they shouldn't be driving or are riding with another young driver who shouldn't be driving.
Reduce distractions - make sure your teen agrees not to eat, drink, or use a cell phone while driving.
Buckle up - teens, more than any group of drivers and passengers, don't use seatbelts.
Check the condition of your teen's car - make certain your teen is driving a car in good condition.

"In the blink of an eye, what should be a joyful time can turn tragic," said Dinges. "By taking a just few small steps, parents can keep their teens safe and make sure the memories they take into the summer are wonderful memories."

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Contact:

Kyle Donash
847-402-5600
Kyle.donash@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Two-Thirds of Parents Wish They Spent More Time Teaching Their Teen to Drive in High-Risk Situation

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:30:00 -0500

More than half of teens say they want more time behind the wheel with their parents Drive it Home™ launched by The Allstate Foundation and National Safety Council offers unique, life-saving approaches for parents
This release contains: 2 Videos, 2 Photos, 2 Related Documents

Research from The Allstate Foundation shows nearly half of parents express regret about not monitoring their teen driver after they get a license, and more than two-thirds wish they spent more time practicing driving with their teen in high-risk situations. To help educate parents on driving risks, The Allstate Foundation is helping the National Safety Council launch Drive it Home, a new program offering specially created resources to help parents keep their teens safer on the road.

Drive it Home, created by parents for parents, is specifically targeted at parents after their teen gets a driver's license; that is one of the deadliest years in a person's life. Drive it Home uses a variety of video and graphic styles, including humor to capture the attention of parents, educate them on the real dangers facing their teens and help them provide ongoing coaching tips for recently licensed teen drivers.

"We know from our research that parents are the No.1 source of information for teen drivers, yet 40 percent don't know car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens," said Vicky Dinges, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Allstate. "Drive it Home can help protect teen drivers, educate parents on the crucial role they play in the driving process, and help ensure our sons and daughters return home each and every night."

Additional findings from The Allstate Foundation's research include:

Parents don't understand the most deadly risks to their teen driver. Research shows that inexperience is the No. 1 cause of teen crashes, but 74 percent of parents inaccurately believe that risk-taking is the leading cause.
- Despite the fact that nine in 10 parents say it's very important for teens to learn to manage night driving and driving with passengers, one in three parents admit they have not adequately covered these items with their teen.
- Nearly 30 percent of parents are not setting rules around some of the most dangerous behaviors including nighttime driving and passengers in the car. Many parents also don't require their teen to get permission before driving somewhere.
- Sixty-four percent of parents are actively looking for resources to help manage their teens' driving experience.

"Parents are looking for information that can help them manage their teens' driving experience and need additional tools that take a variety of non-traditional approaches to capture their attention," said Janet Froetscher, chief executive officer at the National Safety Council. "The National Safety Council researched the behaviors and messages that appealed most with parents and used it to inform the Drive it Home program. We know different parents respond to different kinds of messages. One technique we use is humor, for instance. While this is an extremely serious issue, we know that comedy can appeal to everyone and we were able to weave important tips, tools and statistics into the content for the program."

Tips for Parents. The Allstate Foundation and National Safety Council urge parents to take these simple steps with their teen driver:

Drive at least 30 minutes each week with a newly licensed teen.
Practice specific skills together and provide teens with feedback in the following critical areas:
- Scanning the road ahead to recognize and respond to hazards.
- Controlling speed, stopping, turning and following distance.
- Judging the gap between vehicles in traffic – such as exiting parking lots and left-hand turns.
- Managing the highest risks, such as night driving and driving with young passengers.

Parents looking for practice tips they can use with their teen driver can sign up on the Drive it Home website (www.driveithome.org) for weekly driving practice lessons delivered to them via email.

Additionally, as a part of the program, Drive it Home is coming to cities across the country in a series of shows featuring Second City Communications. The shows take a comedic approach to the topic of teen safe driving and give local parents the chance to win a free Chevy Cruze and gas cards. To get additional information on the dates of the tour, visit www.driveithome.org.

The Drive it Home Show is coming to the following cities:

Greenville, South Carolina	East Islip, New York
Sacramento, California	Middletown, New Jersey
Virginia Beach, Virginia	Seattle, Washington
Phoenix, Arizona	Plano, Texas
Fort Myers, Florida	Nashville, Tennessee
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	Rockford, Illinois
Grand Rapids, Michigan	Colorado Springs, Colorado

Funding for Drive it Home was provided by; the National Safety Council, The Allstate Foundation, General Motors Foundation, AT&T Foundation, Toyota Foundation.

About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.

About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council (nsc.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety and prescription drug overdoses.

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Teen Driving: Teenage Journalists Can Write to Save Lives on the Road

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:30:00 -0500

High school students earn cash prizes for efforts to educate about teen safe driving
This release contains: 1 Related Document

The Allstate Foundation is calling all student journalists looking to help change the conversation on teen driving in their communities. The fifth annual Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards program, sponsored by The Allstate Foundation, is a creative writing and journalism competition that encourages teens to address the number one killer of teens in the U.S. - motor vehicle crashes.

Students are challenged to either write an article and have it published in the school newspaper, or write and produce a news segment and air it for the entire student body to view. This year, teens are asked to address teen safe driving in their entries (ideas can include the dangers of distracted driving, texting, passenger safety or the importance of teen driving laws).

Submissions are judged on readability or segment flow, message and quality of submission. Entries will be accepted through March 1, 2013 and winners are selected with the help of Quill and Scroll, the International Honorary Society for High School Journalists.

Visit The Allstate Foundation's website, http://www.allstatefoundation.org/HSJ, for more information about the contest and to see last year's winners.

Here are five ways everyone can be safer behind the wheel:

Wear a seat belt all the time.
Drive the speed limit.
Limit the number of passengers in your car.
Pull over to make a call or text a friend.
Never drive after drinking alcohol.

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Contact:

Kyle Donash
(847) 402-5600
Kyle.Donash@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Teens Asked to Act Out Loud for Teen Safe Driving

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:41:00 -0500

The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety challenge teens to raise awareness about #1 killer of teens—car crashes
This release contains: 1 Video, 1 Related Document

NORTHBROOK, Ill., – The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) are calling on high schools and teens around the country to participate in the 2012-2013 Act Out Loud program and help teens engage their peers in a conversation on teen safe driving. High schools teams across the country can enter the contest at www.ActOutLoud.org to be eligible for a $10,000 grand prize.

In its sixth year, AOL is a national, high school-based activism competition that enlists teens to raise local awareness about the importance of safe teen driving. This year, teens and their high schools are asked to host a teen safe driving rally in their communities, to raise awareness around the number one killer of teens – car crashes.

"Nearly 10 teens are killed each day on America's roads and programs like Act Out Loud give teens the chance to take action to save lives," said Victoria Dinges, vice president of public social responsibility with Allstate. "It's our hope that by elevating the smart driving discussion in their hometown and reinforcing the importance of responsible driving among their peers, we can save lives."

The winners of the contest will be announced in May 2013 as part Global Youth Traffic Safety Month (GYTSM). Now in its seventh year, GYTSM engages youth from around the world in peer-to-peer education efforts to address safe teen driving.

Six teams will win prizes for their Act Out Loud rallies. The grand prize winning school will be awarded with $10,000 to support their traffic safety projects at their high school.

"National Organizations for Youth Safety is honored to work with The Allstate Foundation. We appreciate the leadership The Allstate Foundation has shown in encouraging and rewarding youth leaders who create Global Youth Traffic Safety Month projects in their communities," said Sandy Spavone, executive director, NOYS.

To register and learn more about Act Out Loud, visit www.ActOutLoud.org.

About National Organizations for Youth Safety
National Organizations for Youth Safety® (NOYS) is a coalition of national organizations, business and industry leaders, and federal agencies who focus on youth safety and health. Through the coalition membership, NOYS influences more than 80 million young people and their adult advisors. The mission of NOYS is to promote youth empowerment and leadership, and build partnerships that save lives, prevent injuries, and enhance safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth. For more information, visit www.NOYS.org.

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Contact:

Kyle Donash
(847) 402-5600
kyle.donash@allstate.com

Teen Driving: More Than Two Dozen of Hollywood's Stars including George Lopez, Kat Graham, Jordin Sparks, Jonas Brothers and Diego Boneta Pledge Not to Text and Drive

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:00:00 -0500

Allstate's XtheTXT® Campaign Ignites an Online Conversation to Stop Texting While Driving
This release contains: 4 Videos, 5 Photos, 1 Related Document

The 6th annual Variety Power of Youth event, which took place Saturday, Sept. 15 in Los Angeles, Calif. was the perfect platform for Allstate's XtheTXT campaign to encourage young drivers not to text and drive. During the event, Hollywood's rising stars and others pledged not to text and drive by inking their thumbprints on a Ford Focus car wrapped with XtheTXT messaging and imagery.

Many young celebrities, including Joe, Kevin and Nick Jonas; Kat Graham; Jordin Sparks; Christian Serratos; Diego Boneta and R.J. Mitte took the pledge not to text and drive. Also, sports and Hollywood legends, including George Lopez and Greg Louganis, took the pledge at the event held at Paramount Studios.

Through their activities, celebrities and event-goers spread the XtheTXT message to more than two million people on Twitter and thousands more on Facebook.

"The celebrities honored at the Variety Power of Youth event are inspiring young people to be responsible behind the wheel by putting the phone down," said Joan Walker, executive vice president of corporate relations at Allstate. "We know that more than 3,000 lives are lost annually because of distracted driving. This simple promise can save thousands of lives."

The following celebrities took the pledge to XtheTXT:

Hi-resolution photos, videos of celebrities and event-goers taking the XtheTXT pledge are available for download on the Allstate Newsroom and through Getty Images.

The Power of Youth campaign encourages young celebrities to become involved in philanthropic and humanitarian causes, using their positions in popular culture to motivate others to do the same.

To take the pledge and for more information about XtheTXT, visit facebook.com/XtheTXT

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names. Widely known by its slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®," Allstate offers insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. As part of Allstate's commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $28 million in 2011 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.

Contact:

Kyle Donash
Kyle.Donash@allstate.com
(847) 402-5600

Teen Driving: Young Hollywood Stars Take the XtheTXT® Pledge at Variety's Power of Youth Event

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 17:30:00 -0500

This release contains: 4 Videos, 3 Photos, 1 Related Document

WHAT:	Allstate's XtheTXT campaign hit the red carpet earlier today at the 6th annual Variety Power of Youth event, which encourages young celebrities to become involved in philanthropic and humanitarian causes, using their positions in popular culture to motivate others to do the same. The XtheTXT campaign encourages teens and their parents to pledge not to text and drive. During the Power of Youth event, hundreds of event-goers and dozens of celebrities took the XtheTXT pledge, joining more than a million other people who have already taken the pledge. Texting and driving slows reaction time and can increase the risk of crashing by more than 23 times. By pledging not to text and drive, thousands of lives could be saved.
AUDIO VISUALS:	Hi-resolution photos, Broll and videos of celebrities and event-goers taking the XtheTXT pledge by inking their thumbs and imprinting a Ford Focus wrapped with XtheTXT imagery are available for download on the Allstate newsroom. The Variety Power of Youth event took place on Paramount Studios' New York City backlot in Los Angeles, California. To take the pledge and for more information about XtheTXT, visit facebook.com/XtheTXT
CONTACT:	Kyle Donash at kyle.donash@allstate.com or (847) 402-5600.

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Teen Driving: Idaho High School Wins National Teen Safe Driving Contest and $10,000

Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 -0500

Lake City High School students 'Act Out Loud' for stronger teen driving laws
This release contains: 1 Photo, 1 Related Document

Thousands of teens have been organizing safe driving activities for the last six months in more than 300 high schools around the country as a part of the Act Out Loud Contest®, sponsored by The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety®. This year's winner, Lake City High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was selected based on their participation in three safe driving projects.

Each team of high school students that participated in Act Out Loud engaged in three projects: a Safe-Tee Shirt design, a Creative Community Sign, and a Facebook Yearbook application--where teens could contact their members of Congress and express their support for stronger teen driving laws. Teams earned points for completing each project, with Lake City High School accumulating the most points. Special Judge's Choice and Runner-Up Awards were also awarded.

"The teens made it happen and it was a full school effort. Administration, faculty, and the students all had a major part in creating activities that the whole school could participate in," said Dan Armstrong, advisor for the Business Professionals of American chapter a Lake City High School. "In the end, the teens and everyone at our school will be safer better drivers on the road because of the Act Out Loud program."

The Lake City High School BPA chapter led in each phase of the overall contest. For the Safe-Tee shirt design portion of the contest, students at the school created more than 600 entries. The one design that was selected and entered into the Act Out Loud contest finished among the contest's top 25 designs. For the Creative Sign phase, they created a banner with a list of Idaho passenger restrictions to help raise awareness of these laws. For the Facebook Yearbook application, they rallied the whole school to get involved and used this online platform to pledge to be safe drivers this summer, which are some of the deadliest for teens on the road.

As the grand prize winner, Lake City High School will be awarded $10,000, a private concert from rising musical artist Skyler, and a taped broadcast from their school that will air on Channel One News which will be seen by nearly six million young people in middle schools and high schools across the country.

"Car crashes are the number one killer of teens. In fact, younger, inexperienced drivers crash four times more often than older drivers, "said Vicky Dinges, Allstate Vice President, Social Responsibility. "By acting out loud for safe teen driving, students from Lake City High School now have funding for their school's safe driving programs. More importantly, those students will go into the summer months aware of dangers on the road and be even more prepared to get behind the wheel safely."

Additional winners from the Act Out Loud contest included:

Runner Up Winners:
Ada High School, Ada, Okla.
Conroe High School, Conroe, Texas
Fatima R-3, Westphalia, Mo.
Oconee County High School, Watkinsville, Ga.
Stafford Technical Center, Rutland, Vt.

Judges' Choice Winners:
Cape Coral High School, Cape Coral, Fla.
Fulda High School, Fulda, Minn.
John A. Dubiski Career High School, Grand Prairie, Texas
North High School, Bakersfield, Calif.
Stuarts Draft High School, Stuarts Draft, Va.

Act Out Loud winners are announced each May as part of National Youth Traffic Safety Month®. Now in its sixth year, National Youth Traffic Safety Month engages youth from across the country in peer-to-peer education efforts to address the number one cause of death for teens in the U.S. - traffic crashes1.

For more information about the contest, visit www.ActOutLoud.org.

About National Organizations for Youth Safety
National Organizations for Youth Safety® (NOYS) is a coalition of national organizations and federal agencies who serve youth and focus on youth safety and health. Through the coalition, NOYS influences more than 80 million young people and their adult advisors. The mission of NOYS is to promote youth empowerment and leadership, and build partnerships that save lives, prevent injuries, and enhance safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth. For more information, visit www.noys.org.

¹Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
² Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

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Contact:
Kyle Donash
(847)402-5600
kyle.donash@allstate.com

Teen Driving: TV Star Victoria Justice Encourages Teens to 'Act Out Loud' and Help Save Lives During May's National Youth Traffic Safety Month

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0500

The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety Challenge Teens to Engage Their Social Networks and Generate Support for Stronger Teen Driving Laws
This release contains: 1 Video, 1 Photo, 3 Related Documents

Car crashes are the no. 1 cause of teen deaths and the fast-approaching summer months prove to be the deadliest. In advance of National Youth Traffic Safety Month® in May, The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety® (NOYS) are partnering with TV star and singer Victoria Justice to encourage young adults to Act Out Loud® for stronger teen driving laws. Justice asks teens to visit Facebook.com/ActOutLoud to create an Act Out Loud Yearbook from now until May 6.

"On average, 11 teens die every day in car crashes - and that's far too many," said Justice. "As a teen myself, I want to make sure my friends and I come home safely each and every day. Through Act Out Loud, we can work together to make an impact and help stop this deadly epidemic."

By creating an Act Out Loud Yearbook, teens share a message that they intend to drive safe, and hope their friends do the same to ensure they continue creating memories for years to come. In addition, they have the opportunity to do more by writing Congress and voicing their support for stronger teen driving laws. Research shows that stronger teen driving laws can save about 2,000 lives each year.¹

"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes," said Sandy Spavone, executive director, NOYS. "The Act Out Loud program gives teens the tools to effectively spread the safe driving message among their peers in an effort to help save lives."

The Act Out Loud Yearbook gives teens a voice on an issue that impacts them every single day. To recognize teens' activism and sharing through their networks, every teen that makes an Act Out Loud Yearbook, along with their 10 featured friends, will be entered for a chance to win $1,000 each.

"Teen driving deaths are a real public health crisis," said Vicky Dinges, vice president of public social responsibility at Allstate. "What's worse is that these deaths are preventable. We can take very simple, common sense steps that will protect young drivers across the country. It is our hope that through Act Out Loud, we are ensuring that no teen has to deal with the loss of a friend or a loved one because of a car crash."

In its fifth year, Act Out Loud is a national, school-based competition that enlists teens to raise local awareness about the importance of stronger teen driver safety laws. In states that have strong graduated driver licensing laws (GDL), teen crash fatalities decrease by up to 40 percent. Since the program started, hundreds of thousands of teens have been encouraged to Act Out Loud and help their friends and family drive safely.

The winners of the Act Out Loud Facebook contest will be announced in May 2012 as part of National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM).

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¹The Allstate Foundation License to Save Report

About National Organizations for Youth Safety
National Organizations for Youth Safety® (NOYS) is a coalition of national organizations, business and industry leaders, as well as federal agencies who serve youth and focus on youth safety and health. Through the coalition, NOYS influences more than 80 million young people and their adult advisors. The mission of NOYS is to promote youth empowerment and leadership, and build partnerships that save lives, prevent injuries, and enhance safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth.

Teen Driving: License to Save Report Finds Graduated Driver Licensing Could Save 2,000 Lives and $13.6 Billion Annually

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:17:00 -0600

Allstate Foundation Parent-Teen Driving Agreement helps parents start safe driving talk
This release contains: 8 Videos, 9 Related Documents

License to Save Report
Map Graphic - Print Quality
Bar Chart Graphic - Print Quality
Airplane Graphic - Print Quality

The Allstate Foundation License to Save Report, developed in conjunction with the National Safety Council, shows that if all states implemented comprehensive graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws, an estimated 2,000 lives could be saved. Further, if all 50 states were to enact comprehensive GDL laws, it could generate savings of $13.6 billion per year.

The report findings are timely, as Congress readies to consider reauthorization of highway and infrastructure spending – legislation that historically has included bold public health and safety measures.

Novice teenage drivers are the most likely drivers on the road to have car accidents. In fact, 16-year-old drivers have crash rates two times greater than 18-to-19-year-old drivers and four times that of older drivers.

GDL helps new drivers gain experience under supervised and less risky conditions. The most comprehensive GDL laws include nighttime driving restrictions, passenger limits, cell phone and texting bans, mandatory behind-the-wheel driving time, minimum entry age for learner's permit (16), and age 18 before full licensure. In some states that have enacted strong GDL laws, the incidence of teenage driving related deaths have dropped by as much as 40 percent.

"Teen driving deaths are a real public health crisis," explained Vicky Dinges, vice president of public social responsibility, Allstate. "What's worse is that these deaths are avoidable. We can take very simple, common sense steps that would protect young drivers across the country. Our Allstate agents see firsthand the dangers for young drivers on the road and as a company we are committed to putting an end to this epidemic."

More than 81,000 people were killed in crashes involving drivers ages 15 to 20 in the decade from 2000 to 2009, making teen driving crashes the leading cause of teen deaths nationwide.

In addition to the lives lost, the total cost to the nation of crashes involving teen drivers in 2009 was estimated at $38.3 billion. These costs include wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative expenses for public and private insurance, police and legal costs, motor vehicle damage, employers' uninsured costs and fire losses. These costs were paid by employers, state and local governments and by citizens through taxes, fees and insurance premiums.

"Over the last 20 years, graduated driver licensing laws have saved an estimated 15,000 lives. These laws can save thousands of American lives and save billions of dollars for consumers, businesses and state and local governments," said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "Our elected officials do not have many opportunities during their careers to take action that will save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in one legislative action. This is one of those times."

To review the complete report and related content, visit www.allstatenewsroom.com.

Coming to Agreement

GDL laws are minimum standards that can help keep teens safer on the road; however, the more that parents are involved in their teen's driving experience, the more likely they will be a safer driver and passenger. To help educate parents and teens about the safety measures that keep drivers protected, The Allstate Foundation created a new free Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. The agreement can help parents and their teens make safer decisions when they get behind the wheel and when they ride as passengers with their friends.

"The Parent-Teen Driving Agreement helps open the door for a conversation about safe driving with your teen," said Dinges. "The agreement works best when it is followed by actions demonstrating those safe driving behaviors you want your teens to engage in, and reinforcing those behaviors with continued, evolving discussion as your teen is exposed to new driving situations."

The new agreement provides the opportunity for parents to discuss their teen's responsibilities when driving or riding as a passenger in a car driven by another teen, and to decide together on the consequences when those responsibilities aren't met. The agreement encourages discussion about several different issues that affect safe driving behavior, including:

No texting or cell phone use while driving - Cell phone calls and texting increase crash risk significantly, and teens are particularly affected.
Wearing a seatbelt - Using lap/shoulder belts can reduce the risk of dying in a car crash by 45%.
Stopping distractions - In 2009, 16 percent of all fatal crashes for people under the age of 20 were reported to involve distracted driving.
Slowing down - In 2009, speed-related crashes accounted for 34% of fatalities among 16-to-19-year-olds.
Driving during the day - Nearly half the teens that died in car crashes in 2009 were killed between 3 p.m. and midnight.
Limiting the number of passengers - The presence of one passenger increases the chance of a fatal crash; the presence of one male passenger nearly doubles those odds.
Being a safe passenger – Being a responsible passenger can help other drivers be safer. In addition to not having more people in the car with a teen driver than is allowed under law, responsible passengers can offer to make a call or send a text for the driver, refuse to get into the car when the driver is drunk or drugged, and avoid risky situations.
No drinking or drugs - Thirteen percent of high school seniors reported driving under the influence of marijuana, a number nearly equivalent to those who reported driving under the influence of alcohol.
Getting good grades - Good grades aren't just important for your teen's future career, they are also indicative of safe driving behavior. Studies have shown a strong correlation between getting good grades and being safe on the road.

Parents can get tailored agreements for their particular state that includes information on the GDL laws applicable to their teen by visiting www.allstatefoundation.org/parent-teen-agreement.

Methodology
The Allstate Foundation License to Save Report estimates of lives saved were generated using a 2007 study which analyzed the effect of graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs to produce percentage reduction estimates compared to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) estimate of the number of young driver-related fatalities in each state. In addition, two additional elements of GDL laws which were not examined in the 2007 study, were given a conservative value of 7 percent fatal crash reduction, and teen cell phone bans were given a 14 percent fatal crash reduction factor, based on estimates from NHTSA and the National Safety Council. The License to Save Report's dollars saved estimates were calculated by applying NHTSA's estimate of the number of fatalities in crashes involving young drivers to the average cost of motor vehicle crashes. For a detailed accounting of the estimates made in The Allstate Foundation License to Save Report, please visit www.allstatenewsroom.com.

About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

Teen Driving: Teens Asked to Bring the NOYS: Act Out Loud Contest Launches To Help Save Teen Lives

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:00:00 -0600

The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety challenge teens to bring awareness to teen driving laws
This release contains: 1 Video, 1 Related Document

The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) launched the 2012 Act Out Loud (AOL) contest, "Acting Out Loud for Stronger Teen Driving Laws." High schools teams across the country can enter the contest at www.ActOutLoud.org to be eligible for more than $40,000 in prizes. Contest registration is open now through January 31, 2012.

In its fifth year, AOL is a national, school-based activism competition that enlists teens to raise local awareness about the importance of stronger teen driving laws.

"Allstate Foundation programs like Act Out Loud give teens the chance to take action to save lives, elevate the smart driving discussion in their hometown and reinforce the importance of responsible driving among their peers," said, Vicky Dinges, vice president of public social responsibility at Allstate.

The winners of the contest will be announced in May 2012 as part of the sixth anniversary of National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM). NYTSM engages youth from across the country in peer-to-peer education efforts to address the number one cause of death for American teens: traffic crashes. Eight of the 10 deadliest days for teens on the road occur between the months of May and August. Motor vehicle crashes kill about 4,000 teens each year.

Eleven teams will win prizes for their activism projects. To be eligible for prizes, teams must complete three projects in the Spring of 2012, including:

- Safe-Tee Shirt Design contest to discourage use of cell phones while driving
- Creative Community Sign contest to raise awareness of passenger restrictions
- Facebook Yearbook photo montage project to promote safe driving laws

The grand prize winning school will be awarded $10,000, a private concert from rising musical artist Skyler, and a taped broadcast from their school that will air on Channel One News, which will be seen by an audience of nearly six million young people in middle schools and high schools across the country. To learn about Skyler, please visit www.ActOutLoud.org.

"National Organizations for Youth Safety is honored to work with The Allstate Foundation. We appreciate the leadership The Allstate Foundation has shown in encouraging and rewarding youth leaders who create National Youth Traffic Safety Month projects in their communities," said Sandy Spavone, Executive Director, NOYS.

About National Organizations for Youth Safety
National Organizations for Youth Safety® (NOYS) is a coalition of national organizations, business and industry leaders and federal agencies who serve youth and focus on youth safety and health. Through the coalition, NOYS influences more than 80 million young people and their adult advisors. The mission of NOYS is to promote youth empowerment and leadership, and build partnerships that save lives, prevent injuries, and enhance safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth.

Contact:

Kate Hollcraft
(847) 402-5600
kate.hollcraft@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Teen Journalists Use Power of the Pen to Build Awareness of Texting While Driving Dangers

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:10:00 -0500

Six U.S. students earn cash prizes for efforts to curb distracted driving
This release contains: 4 Related Documents

Six U.S. high school students were selected from nearly 300 journalism entries around the country as winners of the national Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards to curb distracted driving, earning prizes totaling $7,500. The Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards, sponsored by The Allstate Foundation, encourage high school journalists to educate their peers about the dangers of texting while driving, to raise awareness about youth traffic safety and empower teens to take on the issue locally.

Students were challenged to either write an article and have it published in the school paper, or write and produce a news segment and air it for the entire student body to view. Winners were selected with the help of Quill & Scroll, the International Honorary Society for High School Journalists.

The winners of the 2011 Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards are:

Broadcast winners

1st Place ($2,000 prize) – Robert Jancsura, Amherst Steele High School, Amherst, Ohio

2nd Place ($1,000 prize) – Brianna MacNaught, Allen D. Nease High School, Verda, Fla.

3rd Place ($750 prize) – Jolaina Jesser, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, Broadview Heights, Ohio
Print winners
1st Place ($2,000 prize) – Abbygale Reynolds, Kinston High School, Kinston, N.C.
2nd Place ($1,000 prize) – Cole Sawyer, Vista Ridge High School, Cedar Park, Texas
3rd Place ($750 prize) – Brin Wilk, Kaneland High School, Maple Park, Ill.

"Spreading the word about the dangers of texting while driving is important to all of us at Allstate. We couldn't ask for better ambassadors than the student journalists who participated in our program," said Vicky Dinges, vice president of public social responsibility at Allstate. "All of the teen writers who submitted stories should be quite proud of the success they've had in leading the conversation with their peers about safer driving habits."

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens in the U.S. – more than alcohol, drugs, violence and suicide – killing 4,000 teens each year. The Allstate Foundation's website www.keepthedrive.com offers a resource for teens to learn more about the issue and interact with one another to raise awareness about smart driving.

Here are five ways everyone can be safer behind the wheel:

Wear a seat belt all the time.
Drive the speed limit.
Limit the number of passengers in your car.
Pull over to make a call or text a friend.
Never drive after drinking alcohol.

For more information about the contest, visit www.keepthedrive.com.

About The Allstate Foundation

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.

Teen Driving: National 'Safe Driving Challenge' puts the brakes on distracted driving

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 09:00:00 -0500

Allstate revs up support for STANDUP Act that will help save teen lives
This release contains: 2 Videos, 2 Photos, 1 Related Document

Allstate's Safe Driving Challenge is on a cross-country tour this summer to give Americans a life-saving lesson on the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of passenger safety. Driver distraction contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes and 80 percent of all crashes happen within three seconds of driver distraction. Teens, their family and friends in 23 cities will be challenged to navigate through a professional, closed course while texting, talking on the phone and dealing with rowdy riders without veering off path or hitting obstacles.

The Safe Driving Challenge is the latest program from Allstate to end distracted driving and raise awareness about the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act which will help new drivers gain experience under supervised and less risky conditions.

"Programs like Allstate's Safe Driving Challenge help elevate the national conversation on traffic safety, educate Americans about the dangers of risky driving behaviors and prepare our youngest drivers as they get behind the wheel," says Joan Walker, executive vice president of corporate relations at Allstate. "The driving conversation often starts at home, but parents can't always be with their teen on the road. That's why Allstate supports the STANDUP Act which will help eliminate distractions and gradually introduce our most inexperienced drivers to a safer driving experience."

A recent Allstate Foundation survey found that 74 percent of teens support a comprehensive GDL law that includes an age 16 licensure start, nighttime and passenger restrictions, and cell phone and texting bans until the age of 18 - the same provisions found in the STANDUP Act. National evaluations have found that GDL can reduce up to 40 percent of crashes for 16 and 17 year-old drivers.

Allstate's Safe Driving Challenge will visit 23 cities in 2011, including:

June 16 - Tampa, Fla.
June 20 - Atlanta, Ga.
June 23 - Philadelphia, Pa.
June 27 - Harrisburg, Pa.
July 6 - Roanoke, Va.
July 8 - Baltimore, Md.
July 12 - Long Island, N.Y.
July 14 - Charlotte, N.C.
July 18 - Indianapolis, Ind.
July 21 - Springfield, Ill.
July 26 - Minneapolis, Minn.
July 29 - Omaha, Neb.
Aug. 2 - Memphis, Tenn.
Aug. 4 - Pensacola, Fla.
Aug. 9 - New Orleans, La.
Aug. 16 - Oklahoma City, Okla.
Aug. 19 - Denver, Colo.
Aug. 24 - Fresno, Cal.
Aug. 26 - San Francisco, Cal.
Aug. 30 - Anchorage, Alaska
Sept. 7 - Dallas, Texas
Sept. 9 - Houston, Texas
Sept. 15 - Seattle, Wash.

To track the Safe Driving Challenge and see action footage from the course and photos of participants, visit facebook.com/save11. While there, check out information and resources, learn how to contact local lawmakers and invite family and friends to take action in support of STANDUP.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer known for its "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

# # #

Contact:

Kate Hollcraft
(847) 402-5600
kate.hollcraft@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Teens' 'Acting Out' About Teen Safe Driving Earns $60,000 for Schools

Tue, 31 May 2011 13:55:00 -0500

Eleven U.S. schools help curb distracted driving and win prizes
This release contains: 1 Related Document

Eleven U.S. high schools were selected from more than 80 schools around the country as winners of the national Act Out Loud contest to curb distracted driving, earning prizes totaling $60,000. Act Out Loud, sponsored by The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) is a school-based, teen-led competition to raise awareness about youth traffic safety and empower teens to take on the issue locally.

Teams of students participated in the contest by submitting a video documenting their safe driving campaign and creatively showing how they addressed distracted driving, involved their community or partnered with community leaders. Contest winners are determined by the number of votes each video receives. Special Judge's Awards are also awarded.

The winners of the 2011 Act Out Loud contest are:

Grand Prize Winner: Stuarts Draft High School from Stuarts Draft, Virginia, received $10,000 for receiving the most votes of any other entry for their project.

Runner-up winners - Each of the following schools received the most votes after the Grand Prize Winner, and will receive $5,000 each.

Judge's Awards - Act Out Loud judges chose these schools for their projects' creativity and effectiveness. Each school will receive $5,000 each.

"Allstate and its agents and employees know that being involved in the community makes a difference. With the Act Out Loud program, that involvement is helping to make our children safer," said Vicky Dinges, vice president of public social responsibility at Allstate. "Younger, inexperienced drivers under the age of 20 experience the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes. We are very pleased that so many teens recognize this reality and participated in Act Out Loud and used their creativity to bring attention to stop distracted driving."

Act Out Loud took place in May as part of National Youth Traffic Safety Month. Now in its fifth year, National Youth Traffic Safety Month engages youth from across the country in peer-to-peer education efforts to address the number one cause of death for teens in the U.S. - traffic crashes. Eight of the 10 deadliest days for teens on the road occur during the months of May through August and driver distraction contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes.

Here are five ways everyone can be safer behind the wheel:

Wear a seat belt all the time.
Drive the speed limit.
Limit the number of passengers in your car.
Pull over to make a call or text a friend.
Never drive after drinking alcohol.

For more information about the contest, visit www.ActOutLoud.org.

Teen Driving: Facebook Profile Pictures Go Black May 20 – May 27

Thu, 19 May 2011 07:30:00 -0500

Allstate launches blackout campaign to help save teen lives on the road
This release contains: 1 Video, 4 Photos, 2 Related Documents

Car crashes are the number one killer of American teens, with an average of 11 American teens dying each day as a result of car wrecks.

Crash data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that for five consecutive years, more teen drivers have died on May 20 than any other day of the year. A combination of warm weather, parties, friends and an ending school year, contribute to heightened teen fatal crashes during warm weather months.

Through its Facebook Save 11 page, Allstate is taking action to help stop the number one killer of teens. To help shed light on the darkness of teen driving deaths, visit Save 11 to download and replace your profile picture with a black image available on the page. The blackout campaign is scheduled to run through May 27.

Allstate launched Save 11, a national public awareness campaign designed to put a real, human face on the issue of teen driving deaths, thereby encouraging more members of Congress to support the STANDUP Act.

The STANDUP Act gives states the guidance and resources to improve safe driving standards for teenagers – something that will benefit all drivers. Research has shown that optimum GDL laws are proven to save teen lives.

Photos and video are available in the Allstate media newsroom.

Additional information can be found at:

www.facebook.com/save11
www.allstate.com/standup
www.facebook.com/XtheTXT
www.allstate.com/teen

Teen Driving: Allstate, U.S. DOT Team Up to Tackle Distracted Driving

Thu, 05 May 2011 06:02:56 -0500

Teens and parents take the Family Driving Challenge
This release contains: 5 Videos, 3 Photos, 1 Related Document

Allstate Chairman and CEO Tom Wilson and Administrator David Strickland of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today joined teens, parents, law enforcement and others for an Allstate Family Driving Challenge event in Orlando, Florida. Local teens and their parents got behind the wheel on a special course to demonstrate the difficulties of driving while distracted and learned about the dangers of texting and talking while driving

"Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic on America's roadways, and our youngest drivers are often the most at risk," said Administrator Strickland. "When you're driving, your attention should always be on the road – not on a phone. Allstate's Family Driving Challenge is a great way to demonstrate just how dangerous distractions can be behind the wheel."

Today's event at the Walt Disney World® Speedway was a hands-on experience where parents and teens learned how distractions can affect a driver behind the wheel. Strickland and Wilson interacted with professional driving instructors who took parent-teen teams through a special advanced driving course that included distractions like phone calls, texting, and rowdy passengers. With each added distraction, the course became more difficult and both teens and parents hit cones and veered off course.

"Allstate's goal is to help protect teens from their number one enemy – auto accidents. We applaud Secretary LaHood and DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for championing this cause and proudly stand with him," said Wilson. "Instilling a behavior of safe driving requires awareness, education and enforcement. Lawmakers can also help by enacting graduated licensing laws so driving privileges are consistent with capabilities."

After completing the Family Driving Challenge course, parents and teens joined Strickland and Wilson in a substantive discussion on safe driving issues. This roundtable conversation focused on the need to take the lessons learned on the course and turn them into real solutions to better protect Americans on the road through public awareness, improved education and strong enforcement of safe driving laws. To show their own personal commitment to end distracted driving, participants added their support for Allstate's X the TXT campaign. Those in attendance placed their thumbprint on a large banner, symbolizing their pledge to keep their thumbs off their phones and their eyes on the road.

The Family Driving Challenge is Allstate's interactive awareness program that travels to cities across the United States and is designed to help address the alarming statistics about distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration:

Car crashes are the number one killer of American teens, with an average of 11 American teens dying each day as a result of teen-related car crashes.
Nearly 5,500 people died in 2009 in crashes involving a distracted driver.
Driver distraction contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes.
Younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.

To learn more about Allstate's teen safe driving initiatives visit www.allstate.com/teen. Information about our advocacy efforts on graduated driver licensing laws can be found at www.facebook.com/save11.

***B-roll***

Professional quality, non-branded, Hi-def B-roll, as well as photos, available for download at www.allstatenewsroom.com beginning at 2:00 p.m. EST on Friday, May 6.

About Allstate

Teen Driving: Allstate Applauds Bipartisan Support of STANDUP Act in House

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:29:56 -0500

Company urges other lawmakers to co-sponsor effort to save teen lives
This release contains: 1 Related Document

Allstate Insurance Company announced today its support for the introduction of the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Tim Bishop (D-NY), Lois Capps (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Tim Holden (D-PA), Mike Honda (D-CA), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Steve Israel (D-NY), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

"Allstate applauds the bipartisan effort by leaders in Congress to directly address safe teen driving through the introduction of the STANDUP Act," said Bill Vainisi, senior vice president and deputy general counsel, Allstate. "By enacting uniform graduated driver licensing (GDL) standards, the STANDUP Act will empower states to establish teen driving laws that arm teens with the education and experience they need to become safe drivers."

"STANDUP calls for uniform standards that restrict nighttime driving, limit the number of passengers in a teen's car, prohibit the use of cellphones while driving, and issue permits and licenses with specific age requirements and through a gradual, multi-phased process. These common-sense rules will prepare today's young people to become the safest generation of drivers and provide parents peace of mind to know their child has reliable behind-the-wheel experience. Ultimately, STANDUP can help reduce the tragic number of teens who die on the road, on average 11 each day."

"As long-standing supporters of safe driving, Allstate proudly stands by Representatives Bishop, Capps, Davis, Holden, Honda, Hultgren, Israel, Speier and Van Hollen in leading the charge on this issue in the 112^th Congress. We call on their colleagues to take a major step forward on an issue that gets to the very heart of something we Americans hold dear – the safety of our families. Together, we have the opportunity to turn this idea into action. In fact, through Allstate's Save 11 Campaign, more than 70,000 Americans have already added their voice to a growing chorus of citizens urging Congress to pass this bill."

Teen Driving: Teens Say "YES" to Driving Restrictions that Make Roads Safe

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 06:52:55 -0600

New Allstate Foundation survey shows 74 percent of teens support GDL laws
This release contains: 1 Photo, 1 Related Document

A new survey from The Allstate Foundation uncovered a refreshing advocate for graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws - teens. The survey explored teens' opinions about licensing policies and GDL, and found that 74 percent support a comprehensive GDL law that includes an age 16 licensure start, nighttime and passenger restrictions, and cell phone and texting bans until the age of 18.

The survey also found that teens recognize the risk of distracted driving, which contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes. The vast majority of teens, 93 percent, are in favor of texting bans and 85 percent approved of cell phone bans.

"Results from The Allstate Foundation survey show that teens understand the role of uniform GDL laws in saving lives, and overwhelmingly support a legislative solution that safely introduces them to the driving experience," said Joan Walker, senior vice president of corporate relations, Allstate. "Eleven teens die every day in car crashes and legislators have a responsibility to protect American families. Now is the time for policy makers to listen to our youngest drivers, make traffic safety a priority and enact tough, enforceable GDL laws."

GDL lets teen drivers get on-the-road driving experience gradually, under lower-risk conditions. Many GDL laws vary by state, but the most effective provisions include:

Extended periods of supervised driving before a full license is granted
Required hours of adult supervision during learner periods
Restrictions on late-night driving during initial months after teen gets a license
Limits on driving with teen passengers

"The survey produced surprisingly high and consistent approval for a comprehensive law among all teen demographics," said Dr. Allan Williams, former chief scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the researcher who analyzed The Allstate Foundation survey. "The results of the survey provide the latest look at teens' perspectives on GDL laws, and dispel many of the myths behind teen's attitudes related to obtaining a drivers license."

About the Survey
The national survey was comprised of 1,383 online interviews of teens between the ages of 15 and 18. Participants were drawn from a nationally representative panel of US households, using probability-based sampling. The survey was conducted in November 2010 by Knowledge Networks.

For more information about the survey, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org/teen-licensing-survey.

# # #

Contact:

Meghann Dowd
847-402-5600

Teen Driving: Students Across the Country Rally Americans to Pledge Not to Text and Drive

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:46:55 -0600

The Allstate Foundation and Channel One News empower teens to "X the TXTSM"
This release contains: 1 Related Document

Teens say texting is the biggest distraction behind the wheel, and this week students at more than 300 American high schools have signed on to fight distracted driving as part of a teen safe driving competition from The Allstate Foundation and Channel One News. Friends and family can take the pledge to "X the TXT" on behalf of participating high schools from Feb. 7-13 at www.channelone.com/xthetxt. The school with the most online pledges (calculated as a percentage of school size) will be named the winner at the end of the competition.

The Allstate Foundation will reward the winning school with a $10,000 grant. Also, as part of National Youth Traffic Safety Month in May, rising music star Ashlyne Huff will perform a private concert at the winning school, and Channel One News anchors will tape a broadcast from the school on the day of the concert.

"By harnessing the power of positive peer influence, these students are leading the charge against the texting epidemic to make roads safer now as well as for the next generation of drivers," said Joan Walker, senior vice president of corporate relations, Allstate. "Public awareness campaigns like Allstate's X the TXT movement, SAVE 11 and Family Driving Challenge have helped fuel the conversation on distracted driving and educate America on the power of uniform, enforced graduated driver licensing laws to protect our youngest drivers from dangerous driving situations."

According to a recent Allstate Foundation study, 49 percent of teens admit to being extremely distracted by texting and instant messaging while driving. However, 82 percent of teens still say they use their cell phones behind the wheel. And, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports driver distraction contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes.

The competition marks the third year The Allstate Foundation and Channel One News are working together to educate and inform young adults on critical issues related to safe and responsible driving. Channel One News, the leading television news network for teens, reaches more than six million students daily through its broadcast in middle schools and high schools nationwide.

"Channel One and The Allstate Foundation's X the TXT competition is succeeding in raising awareness for a very important issue among a population of teens who are at greater risk to the dangers of texting while driving," commented Kent Haehl, CEO, Channel One Network. "We encourage all participating schools to continue building awareness and furthering their education of the dangers of texting while driving, and we look forward to rewarding the school that succeeds in garnering the highest percentage of pledges to X the TXT".

Allstate's X the TXT program is a national movement to raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving, and encourage teens and their families to pledge not to text and drive. Today, fans of X the TXT can check out celebrity updates, share the message with online networks, and even designate an in-car texter at www.facebook.com/xthetxt, so they can stay focused on the road and in touch with their friends and family. The campaign is part of Allstate's broader efforts to make roads safer for young drivers and all American families. Since its launch, more than 125,000 people from across the country have committed to X the TXT.

About Channel One News
Peabody and Telly Award-winning Channel One News, an Alloy Media + Marketing company, is the leading television news network for teens, reaching nearly six million young people in middle schools and high schools nationwide - broadcast each day to close to 1 in 4 of all teenagers in the U.S. The dynamic, daily broadcast and supplementary educational resources inform, educate, and inspire teens, connecting them with important current events and the world around them. Channel One News has covered fast-breaking global events from regions such as Haiti, Chile, Mexico, Sierra Leone, North Korea, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Germany and Qatar. Through its partnership with CBS News Productions, Channel One News draws on the vast resources of CBS News, ensuring worldwide coverage wherever and whenever news breaks - and always from a teen perspective. Channel One News programming has been featured on leading networks and news programs, including CBS, CNN, NBC Nightly News and Today Show, ABC News and Nightline. Visit the Webby Award-winning website www.ChannelOne.com to learn more.

Contact:

Meghann Dowd
(847) 402-5600

Teen Driving: Allstate and Jordin Sparks 'Tackle' Texting While Driving

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:01:55 -0600

Charity gala attendees X the TXTSM and designate a texter during week of Big Game
This release contains: 2 Photos, 1 Related Document

Allstate and Jordin Sparks are bringing the "X the TXT: DSGN8 Before You Drive" movement to the Jordin Sparks Experience, an annual gala for Sparks Charities held just before the Big Game in Dallas. The "DSGN8 Before You Drive" message urges Americans to hand their cell phone to their DSGN8D TXTR - the person they chose to text on their behalf before they get behind the wheel so they can stay safe and stay in touch on the road.

"The Experience is about doing the right thing for your community; that's why it's important to share the designated texter message with my friends and fans to help make our roads safer," said Sparks. "Keeping yourself, friends, family and other drivers safe by not texting and driving is a life-changing way of showing that you care."

Driver distraction contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and teens report texting as the number one distraction behind the wheel. Allstate continues to lead advocacy efforts for texting bans and graduated driver licensing laws, like those included in STANDUP Act, to help make our roads safer for everyone. As part of the advocacy effort, the X the TXT movement raises awareness about the dangers of texting while driving.

"Tweens, teens and parents across the country are growing the X the TXT movement online and at events like the Jordin Sparks Experience," said Joan Walker, senior vice president of corporate relations, Allstate. "Strong legislation like the STANDUP Act, combined with consistent enforcement as well as education about responsible driving habits such as designating a texter will lead to new safe driving habits and can save lives."

Attendees of Sparks Feb. 2 charity event can join celebrities like Michael Strahan, Larry Fitzgerald, Jason DeRulo, DJ Babey Drew and Honor Society, as they take the pledge not to text and drive by placing their thumbprint on a banner and appointing their DSGN8D TXTR. Participants can snap pictures in a photo booth and view them later at facebook.com/XtheTXT. So far, more than 125,000 people have taken Allstate's pledge not to text and drive, and thousands have appointed a DSGN8D TXTR at in-person events and online at facebook.com/XtheTXT.

The "X the TXT: DSGN8 Before You Drive" event takes place from 11 am - 7 pm on Wed., Feb., 2, at the Sheraton Arlington Hotel. For more information or to register your DSGN8D TXTR visit www.facebook.com/XtheTXT.
For more information about the STANDUP Act, visit facebook.com/SAVE11.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE for download at Allstate's Digital Newsroom.

Contact:

Kate Hollcraft
(847) 402-5600

Teen Driving: Allstate's X the TXT℠ Movement Reaches Major Milestone

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 06:09:56 -0600

Online community of 100,000 pledge not to text and drive
This release contains: 1 Related Document

Allstate's X the TXT social movement to curb distracted driving reached a milestone with the registration of its 100,000th Facebook fan, nearly double the average number of fans on most Fortune 500 company pages. Allstate has built its facebook.com/XtheTXT fan page following through a combination of celebrity support, online engagement and in-person events.

"Facebook provides the platform. Celebrities and pledge events drive the conversation. Fans are sharing stories, hearing from celebrities they respect and encouraging their friends and family to join the movement," said Sari Macrie, vice president of corporate relations, Allstate. "Our integrated social media and traditional grassroots campaign is making a difference. More than 100,000 X the TXT fans are building an activist community and saving lives."

Allstate's X the TXT movement has grown with the help of star-studded support from celebrity spokespeople like The Jonas Brothers and Jordin Sparks. These pop culture icons are using their celebrity to raise awareness and engage their fans online and at pledge events for teens and families across the country. During these events, participants place their blue-inked thumbprints on an oversized banner – a symbol of their commitment to take their thumbs off their phone and stay focused on the road. Photo booths on-site drive fans to the X the TXT Facebook page (facebook.com/xthetxt) where they can tag photos, continue the conversation and share the pledge with their friends online.

To date, more than 125,000 people have taken the pledge not to text and drive online and at live events. As part of Allstate's new "X the TXT: DSGN8 Before You Drive" campaign, fans can also appoint a DSGN8D TXTR [designated texter] with the DSGN8D TXTR app.

About Allstate's New DSGN8D TXTR Program

Allstate is hosting a 10-city "X the TXT: DSGN8 Before You Drive" holiday campaign which focuses on incorporating a new step in a driver's habits by urging Americans to hand their phone to their DSGN8D TXTR before they get behind the wheel. Kevin Jonas kicked off the tour by designating best bud and security guard, Big Rob, as his in-car DSGN8D TXTR.

Allstate is making stops at sporting events, malls, holiday events and more with a goal to register more than 25,000 DSGN8D TXTRs at the events and online at facebook.com/XtheTXT. Grammy Award®-nominee and Broadway star Jordin Sparks, actress Meaghan Martin (Camp Rock, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, 10 Things I Hate About You), pop rock band Honor Society, R&B singer Mateo and Big Rob – along with their DSGN8D TXTRs – have joined Jonas in supporting the effort by registering online and will be making appearances in select cities during the national tour.

About Allstate

Teen Driving: Allstate and Celebrity Friends "DSGN8 TXTRS" for the Holidays

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:57:55 -0600

Kevin Jonas and his DSGN8D TXTR Big Rob kick off 10-city tour to X the TXT℠ and curb distracted driving deaths
This release contains: 1 Related Document

Allstate kicks off their 10-city "X the TXT: DSGN8 Before You Drive" tour aimed at registering more than 25,000 DSGN8D TXTRs at live events and on Facebook (facebook.com/XtheTXT) this holiday season - one of the deadliest times of the year for teens on the road.

Allstate's X the TXT movement launched one year ago to raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving and save lives. To date, more than 125,000 people have pledged not to text and drive. Building on the success of that movement, X the TXT: DSGN8 Before You Drive, introduces a new step in drivers' habits by urging Americans to hand their phone to their DSGN8D TXTR before they get behind the wheel. Kevin Jonas will kick off the tour by designating best bud and security guard Big Rob as his in-car DSGN8D TXTR.

"Everyone is busy during the holidays and we all depend on our phones to keep in touch while on the go," said Jonas. "Sending a text isn't worth risking your life or the lives of others. Having a DSGN8D TXTR to text on your behalf lets you focus on driving. In return, we can protect our friends and family by offering to take their phone when they drive."

Teens and their families and friends can join the campaign by attending a tour event where they can take the pledge not to text and drive, customize a free cell phone grip with their DSGN8D TXTR's name, and have their photo taken with their DSGN8D TXTR, to be included in a national photo mosaic and online.

Those who can't attend an event can join their favorite celebrities by registering their DSGN8D TXTR online and uploading photos at facebook.com/XtheTXT. Participants can check out other DSN8D TXTRS in their area and track the progress of registering 25,000 DSGN8D TXTRs across the country.

"Especially during the holiday season, we want to stay in touch with those we love, and Allstate wants to make sure that all of us do so safely. Choosing a loved one to serve as your DSGN8D TXTR while you're driving is one way to do so," said Joan Walker, senior vice president of corporate relations at Allstate. "Allstate continues to advocate for responsible personal behaviors, such as not texting while driving, as well as for stronger distracted driving and graduated driver licensing laws, like the STANDUP Act, to help make our roads safer for everyone."

Grammy Award®-nominee and Broadway star Jordin Sparks, actress Meaghan Martin (Camp Rock, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, 10 Things I Hate About You), pop rock band Honor Society, R&B singer Mateo and Big Rob - along with their DSGN8D TXTRs - have joined Jonas in supporting the effort by registering online. They will also make appearances in select markets during the national tour.

The holiday campaign also includes a sweepstakes sponsored by Allstate, in which people can enter to win VIP tickets and an expense-paid trip to the Jordin Sparks Experience in 2011.

To appoint your DSGN8D TXTR, or for more information about the 10-city tour, visit facebook.com/XtheTXT.

Contact:

Kate Hollcraft
(847) 402-5600

Teen Driving: Allstate's "DSGN8D TXTR" Aims to Curb Distracted Driving Deaths

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 06:09:56 -0500

Movement offers solution for saving lives: appoint a designated texter
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Allstate today announced the expansion of their "X the TXT" initiative – urging young people, their friends and families to appoint a DSGN8D TXTR before getting behind the wheel.

"Just like the ‘designated driver' movement, this is about Americans taking responsibility behind the wheel in order to save lives," said Joan Walker, senior vice president of corporate relations at Allstate. "By choosing a DSGN8D TXTR, drivers can keep two eyes on the road and their thumbs off the cell phone."

DSGN8TD TXTR – the person empowered to text on behalf of a driver – was first introduced by Allstate this summer as part of their sponsorship of the Jonas Brothers' "Road Dogs" softball tour.

During Road Dogs games, the Jonas Brothers spoke about the importance of appointing a DSGN8D TXTR, and game attendees could personalize key chains and t-shirts with the names of their appointed friends or family members. More than 7,000 key chains were distributed and almost 15,000 people pledged not to text and drive by adding their thumbprint to the X the TXT banner on-site at each game during the 12-city Road Dogs tour.

X the TXT is a national movement created and led by Allstate to educate teens and their families about the dangers of texting while driving and encouraging them to make a public pledge not to do so. This campaign is part of Allstate's broader efforts to make our roads safer, especially for young drivers.

Since Allstate launched X the TXT in the Fall of 2009, more than 100,000 Americans have made the pledge at live pledge events across the country or online at facebook.com/XtheTXT. In addition to the pledges of the Jonas Brothers, Jordin Sparks, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Meredith Vieira and Tom Joyner, others have pledged not to text and drive.

Texting is one of the most dangerous distractions facing drivers today, particularly among teens. And car crashes are the number one killer of teens, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with teens crashing four times more often than any other age group. A recent Allstate Foundation study found that 49 percent of driving teens admit to being extremely distracted by texting and instant messaging while driving. NHTSA reports driver distraction contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes.

An Allstate DSGN8D TXTR holiday program will kick off in late November. To take the pledge not to text and drive, or for more information about the X the TXT initiative, visit www.facebook.com/XtheTXT .

About Allstate

Teen Driving: The Allstate Foundation Puts Teens Behind the Wheel to Save Lives

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:08:56 -0500

Teens across the country empowered to bring safe driving awareness to their hometowns
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The Allstate Foundation's Teen Safe Driving (TAF) program launches four initiatives for the 2010-2011 school year to educate America's youngest driver's about the dangers of unsafe driving and empower teens to become smart driving activists in their schools and communities.

The Allstate Foundation's teen safe driving 2010-2011 school year programming includes:

Act Out Loud: Raising Voices for Safe Teen Driving

In honor of National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM) in May 2011, National Organizations for Youth Safety and TAF teamed up to develop a contest called Act Out Loud: Raising Voices for Safe Teen Driving (AOL). Now in its fourth year, AOL is a national teen-led and school-based activism competition to encourage youth to lead distracted driving campaigns in their communities. Eleven teams will win up to $10,000 for their distracted driving activism projects. Registration is open now, and the first 200 schools to enter receive a free NYTSM kit to jumpstart their campaigns.

Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards

The third annual Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards encourages teen journalists to educate their peers about the dangers of texting while driving. To enter, students should write an article about distracted driving and published in a school paper; or write and produce a broadcast segment about distracted driving and air it on a school TV network. Students can win up to $2,000. Applications are accepted online now through March 1, 2011.

X the TXT with Channel One News

TAF and Channel One News students are taking the pledge to “X the TXT” through a school-based competition challenging teens to rally their friends, families and community members to pledge online not to text and drive. The school with the most pledges (relevant to their size) at the end of pledge week, Feb. 7 - 13, 2011, earns $10,000, an in-school Channel One News taping, and a private concert by singer/songwriter Ashlyne Huff. Channel One schools must register to compete at ChannelOne.com/XtheTXT by Dec. 31.

National Student Leadership Week

TAF and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) are raising awareness about the dangers of unsafe driving and saving teen lives this school year by informing teen leaders about crash fatalities, involving them in safe driving initiatives and empowering them to host safe driving projects in their school. For the second year, TAF will award the top five students with a $2,000 award for their activism efforts as part of National Student Leadership Week in April 2011. Additionally, TAF funding supports student leadership development through various NASSP conferences throughout the year.

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). The Allstate Foundation strives to make our communities and our nation a better and safer place to live through partnerships with non-profit organizations promoting “safe and vital communities,” “tolerance, inclusion, and diversity” and “economic empowerment.” Teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors have been priority issues for the Foundation since 2005. For more information, visit www.ProtectTeenDrivers.com.

Teen Driving: Enact, Enforce and Educate to Curb Distracted Driving

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:19:56 -0500

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Allstate Insurance Company today issued the following statement in response to the release of the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) report which states that texting bans have not seen a decrease in reported car crashes.

"Allstate joins U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in calling for continued efforts to enact, enforce and educate the public about texting bans that can save lives.

"Legislation is only the first step. To have real impact, laws must be strongly enforced so that the consequence for texting while driving is a tough penalty and not the end of a life," said Joan Walker, vice president of corporate relations for Allstate Insurance Company. "Legislation must be combined with law enforcement and public education programs to create a real shift in changing safe driving norms.

"Allstate supports and encourages legislation banning texting behind the wheel, especially for teen drivers. Public education programs like Allstate's Save 11 campaign focus on enacting graduated driver's licensing laws to protect and prepare America's youngest drivers behind the wheel. Movements like Allstate's "X the TXT" help build awareness about the dangers of texting behind the wheel and curb distracted driving.

"Every American has an obligation to stay focused on the road and protect one another. We have an opportunity to create a safer driving environment today and for future generations. We must act now by bringing together the most powerful resources we can to enact tough legislation, enforce laws with real consequences and change driving attitudes and behaviors."

Contact:
Adam Shores
(847) 402-5600

Teen Driving: Allstate's "X the TXT" Program Hits the Road with the Jonas Brothers

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:49:56 -0500

Jonas Brothers' "Road Dogs" softball tour provides platform for growing teen movement against texting while driving
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Allstate's "X the TXT" social initiative is partnering with the Jonas Brothers' "Road Dogs" softball tour to raise teen awareness about the danger of texting while driving and to encourage young people and their families to pledge not to text and drive. The 12-city tour kicks off this Friday, Aug. 6, in Joliet, IL.

"Road Dogs" started when the Jonas Brothers played recreational softball games while on tour in 2009. The games became very popular with fans after one of the brothers mentioned the games on a social media site. This year, they will be playing seven innings of softball at minor league stadiums throughout the country. At each venue, they will be working with Allstate to educate fans about the dangers of texting and driving. All events are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are limited to the stadium's capacity.

During the game, fans can join the Jonas Brothers in pledging not to text and drive by adding their thumbprint – the symbol of their pledge – to a banner that will be traveling with the "Road Dogs" tour. Participants will receive "TXTNG KLLS" thumb bands to wear as a reminder of their commitment. Throughout the game, fans will also have the opportunity to win a meet and greet with the Jonas Brothers or autographed t-shirts.

"It is really important that our fans understand just how dangerous texting while driving is," said Kevin Jonas. "Pledging not to text and drive is a promise to your friends, your family and yourself to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel."

Grammy®-nominated artist Jordin Sparks kicked off Allstate's "X the TXT" last November with a 29-city national tour of live pledge events, a Facebook virtual pledge page, and a petition urging Congress to address the issue of texting while driving. Most recently, "X the TXT" events were held at each of Sparks' 29 concerts during her Battlefield tour. In addition to Sparks, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, David Archuleta, Jason Derulo, Meredith Vieira, and more than 85,000 Americans have pledged not to text and drive.

The social initiative is part of Allstate's broader efforts to make our roads safer, especially for young drivers.

"If you text while driving, you are 23 times more likely to crash. Our young drivers are especially susceptible to this risk due to the pressure to stay in constant contact with friends," said Joan Walker, senior vice president of corporate relations at Allstate. "By encouraging teens to change this dangerous behavior, Allstate hopes to save young people's lives."

Texting is one of the most dangerous distractions facing drivers today, particularly among teens, of which car crashes are the number one killer. According to a recent Allstate Foundation study, 49 percent of driving teens admit to being extremely distracted by texting and instant messaging while driving. And, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports driver distraction contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes.

Allstate hopes more people will join the cause in urging Congress to create stronger laws, not just to ban texting while driving, but to make young drivers safer drivers. One way to do this is through the enactment of the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act (H.R. 1895, S. 3269), which would require states to pass and enforce minimum standards for graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws. The STANDUP Act is currently awaiting Congressional approval.

To take the pledge not to text and drive or for more information about the tour, visit www.facebook.com/XtheTXT.

A full listing of game dates and locations follows:
August 6: Joliet, Ill.
August 13: New Britain, Conn.
August 16: Newark, N.J.
August 19: Queens, N.Y.
August 21: Islip, N.Y.
August 26: Boston, Mass.
August 27: Camden, N.J.
September 7: Jupiter, Fla.
September 11: Houston, Texas
September 12: Dallas, Texas
September 18: San Jose, Cal.
September 19: Irvine, Cal.

Jonas Brothers Contact:
Victor Trevino, M2M Construction, victor@m2mconstruction.com

CONTACT:

Kate Hollcraft
(847) 402-5600
kate.hollcraft@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Allstate and American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks Team Up For Summer "Thumbs Up to X the TXT" Campaign

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:33:56 -0500

"X the TXT" joins Sparks for concert tour; encourages fans to stop texting while driving
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Allstate's "Thumbs Up to X the TXT" pledge campaign joins Grammy-nominated and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks on her "Battlefield" tour presented by Mike & Ike this summer to encourage teens and their families not to text while driving. The first of the campaign's 29 tour stops is today, with the goal of raising awareness about the dangers of texting while driving, and asking teens and their families to publicly pledge to "X the TXT" behind the wheel.

"The summer is one of the deadliest times of the year for young drivers," says Sparks. "School's out and the desire to be in touch with friends and family is even stronger. By pledging not to text and drive we can save thousands of lives. Choosing to not pick up the phone and keep your eyes on the road can be the difference between life and death."

Concertgoers will have the opportunity to make the pledge not to text and drive by adding their thumbprint - the symbol of their pledge - to a traveling banner at each of Sparks' shows. Participants will receive thumb bands they can wear as a reminder of their commitment.

Allstate's X the TXT movement began last November with a 30-city national tour of live pledge events, a Facebook virtual pledge page, and a petition urging Congress to address the issue of texting while driving. The campaign is part of Allstate's broader efforts to make our roads safer, especially for young drivers.

Most recently, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Congressional leaders joined Allstate and Sparks in Washington, DC to urge Americans to make the pledge not to text while driving. To date, more than 80,000 people have made the pledge.

"Texting while driving is the equivalent of drinking four beers. It is time to put an end to this deadly practice," said Joan Walker, senior vice president of corporate relations at Allstate. "By combining the power of personal pledges with calls for strong distracted driving and graduated drivers licensing laws, Allstate is working to reduce teen deaths and make our roads safer for everyone."

Allstate hopes more people will join the cause in urging Congress to create stronger laws, not just to ban texting while driving, but to make young drivers safer drivers. One way to do this is through the enactment of graduated driver licensing guidelines that allow new drivers to gain valuable experience under supervised and less risky conditions.
To take the pledge not to text and drive or for more information about the tour, visit www.facebook.com/thumbsuppledge. A full listing of tour dates and locations follows:

June 3: Sayreville, N.J., Starland Ballroom
June 4: Clifton Park, N.Y., Northern Lights
June 8: Greensburg, Pa., Palace Theater
June 10: New York, N.Y., Nokia Theater
June 11: Hampton, N.H., HB Casino
June 12: Hartford, Conn., Webster Theater
June 13: Boston, Mass., House of Blues
June 15: Cincinnati, Ohio, 20th Century
June 16: Detroit, Ohio, Royal Oak
June 17: Cleveland, Ohio, House of Blues
June 19: Norfolk, Va., The Norva
June 20: Charlotte, N.C., Fillmore
June 22: Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Revolution
June 23: Orlando, Fla., House of Blues
June 28: Houston, Texas, House of Blues
June 29: Dallas, Texas, House of Blues
July 1: Tempe, Ariz., Marquee
July 2: Anaheim, Calif., The Grove
July 3: Reno, Nev., Knitting Factory
July 5: Seattle, Wash., The Showbox
July 6: Portland, Ore., Roseland Theater
July 8: San Diego, Calif., House of Blues
July 9: Los Angeles, Calif., Club Nokia
July 10: San Francisco, Calif., The Regency Ballroom
July 12: Denver, Colo., Ogden Theater
July 14: Kansas City, Mo., Beaumont Club
July 16: Minneapolis, Minn., First Ave
July 17: Chicago, Ill., House of Blues
July 18: Philadelphia, Pa., TLA

About Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks has been performing from a young age and stands alone as the youngest contestant to ever win "American Idol." She has since become a platinum and award winning recording artist. Her self-titled debut album was released in 2007 on 19 Recordings/Jive Records and went on to sell over 1.6 million copies worldwide, producing three Top 5 hits that have cumulatively sold almost 9 million downloads/ringtones. In addition to winning an American Music Award she has received two MTV Video Music Award nominations and a 2008 Grammy nomination. Jordin released her sophomore album, Battlefield, and has since toured extensively around the world with artists such as Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers and Britney Spears. Jordin also recently announced she will make her Broadway debut in the 2008 Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights. 20-year-old Jordin Sparks will play the lead in a limited 12-week engagement starting onAugust 19th through November 14th 2010. For more information about Jordin Sparks, visit www.sparkstown.com.

# # #

Allstate Contact:
Kate Hollcraft (847) 402-5600, kate.hollcraft@allstate.com

Jordin Sparks Contact:
Kerri Brusca (646) 666-0840, kerribrusca@hotmail.com or

Victoria Varela (917) 250-2110, victoriavarela@varelamedia.com

Teen Driving: May 20: Deadliest Day for Teens on the Road

Mon, 17 May 2010 17:23:56 -0500

The Allstate Foundation urges Americans to Act Out Loud during National Youth Traffic Safety Month
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May is supposed to be a time of celebration for many teens with prom, graduation and summer looming. Unfortunately, new analysis of crash data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that May 20 is the deadliest day for teens on the road, claiming 63 percent more young lives than average over the past five years.

Data from IIHS also shows that more than 60 percent of teen passenger deaths occur in vehicles driven by another teen. A recent survey by The Allstate Foundation found that more than 75 percent of teens admit to feeling unsafe with another teen’s driving, but only 59 percent are willing to speak up in risky driving situations. Only 53 percent of teen girls report they will say something in dangerous situation on the road versus 66 percent of teen boys.

The Allstate Foundation and the National Organizations for Youth Safety are giving teens a license to speak up through Act Out Loud (AOL), a teen-led, school-based teen driving activism contest. As part of AOL, 20 schools from throughout the country are competing for a $10,000 prize by hosting the most effective safe driving program. The public can have their say about smart driving by voting online for the best activism project until May 21 at www.ActOutLoud.org, and view video posts, blogs and photos from teens tackling the issue in their community.

Raise Your Voice
The Allstate Foundation urges Americans to do their part in making roads safer for all families through the following activities:

Participate in the Dialogue - The first 100 people to become a follower at www.Twitter.com/drvngchng and re-tweet a tip on talking to teens about safe driving receives a special set of air fresheners to place inside cars as daily reminders for teens to drive safely.
X the TXT - Pledge not to text and drive, and help reduce teen deaths and other distracted driving injuries. Join the X the TXT Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thumbsuppledge.
Educate Your Community – Start the conversation about federal legislation that helps makes our teens safer on the road. Check out your state’s GDL laws at www.ProtectTeenDrivers.com.
Download a Parent Teen Driver Contract – A tool for parents to start the conversation with teens about the importance of safe driving, set guidelines and discuss consequences. Visit www.ProtectTeenDrivers.com to download the contract and find tips on how to talk to teens about safe driving.

Shifting Teen Attitudes
Additional key findings from The Allstate Foundation survey, Shifting Teen Attitudes: A Report on the State of Teen Driving, include:

Texting is teens’ biggest distraction behind the wheel. More than 49 percent of teens report texting as a distraction, up from 31 percent in 2005. About 82 percent of teens report using cell phones while driving.
Girls report more aggressive driving habits, with 16 percent of girls describing their driving as aggressive, up from 9 percent in 2005.
Teen driving laws are a powerful force in safe driving. More boys (41 percent) than girls (31 percent) say that their parents enforce teen driving laws.

About the Shifting Teen Attitudes: The State of Teen Driving Survey
The survey was conducted via online interviews among 1,063 teens nationally by TRU Research. This total sample size yields a margin of error of +/-3% at a 95% confidence level.

About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. The Allstate Foundation strives to make our communities and our nation a better and safer place to live through partnerships with non-profit organizations promoting “safe and vital communities,” “tolerance, inclusion, and diversity” and “economic empowerment.” Teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors have been priority issues for the Foundation since 2005. For more information, visit www.ProtectTeenDrivers.com.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

Contact:

Raleigh Floyd
Allstate Insurance Company
847-402-5600
Rflad@allstate.com

Meghann Dowd
The Allstate Foundation
847-402-7579
Meghann.dowd@allstate.com

Teen Driving: U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood, Congressional Leaders and Jordin Sparks Join Allstate in Urging Americans to Stop Texting and Driving

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:53:56 -0500

Anti-texting campaign part of Allstate's broader safe teen driving advocacy efforts
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Today, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood joined singing sensation Jordin Sparks, Congressional leaders and Allstate senior executives to urge Americans to take a pledge not to text and drive.

"Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic, and we need to work together to stop thousands of unnecessary injuries and deaths every year," said Secretary LaHood. "I applaud the efforts of Allstate to encourage Americans to take personal responsibility and help put an end to this dangerous behavior."

LaHood joined Members of Congress and Allstate to highlight the success of Allstate's "X the TXT" campaign, which encourages teens and their parents to take their thumbs off of their electronic devices, and not text while driving. This campaign is part of Allstate's broader efforts to make our roads safer, especially for young drivers. American Idol superstar Sparks and her mom Jodi kicked off the campaign in November 2009 when they publicly pledged not to text and drive by leaving their mark - in this case, their thumbprints - on a pledge banner that traveled the country this past holiday season.

The X the TXT movement began with an official 30-city tour with live pledge events, a Facebook virtual pledge page, as well as a petition urging Congress to address the issue of texting while driving.

To date, over 75,000 Americans have pledged not to text and drive, and close to 5,000 individuals have signed the petition urging Congress to pass federal legislation banning texting while driving.

"Eleven teens die every day in car crashes. Pledging not to text and drive is a powerful act that anyone can take to help ensure those we love come home safely," said Bill Vainisi, vice president and deputy general counsel at Allstate. "But we can and must do more. More young lives will be saved when our efforts to change social norms are backed by strong distracted driving laws and rigorous enforcement.The time to act is now."

Texting is one of the most dangerous distractions facing drivers today, particularly teens, and car crashes are the number one killer of this age group. According to a recent Allstate Foundation study, 82 percent of driving teens admit to using cell phones while driving, and 49 percent admit to being extremely distracted by texting and instant messaging while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver distraction contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes.

At the event, Sparks also presented a $25,000 check from Allstate to the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). Allstate pledged to donate $1 (up to $25,000) for every person who joined the cause on Facebook.

"Sending a text is not worth taking a life," said Grammy-nominated Jordin Sparks. "Unfortunately, it can be easy to forget the dangers of texting and driving when you get behind the wheel. That's why it is important for teens, their friends and families to acknowledge the risks and pledge together not to do it."

To take your pledge to not text and drive, or for more information on the X the TXT pledge program, visit www.facebook.com/thumbsuppledge.

# # #

Contact:

Kate Hollcraft
(847) 402-5600

Teen Driving: Allstate and Jordin Sparks Team Up to Bring Pledge Against Texting and Driving to Jordin Sparks Experience

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:03:56 -0600

"X the TXT" Event Showcased at Singing Sensation's 3rd Annual Charity Gala in Miami
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In November, twenty-yearold singing sensation Jordin Sparks and her mom, Jodi Sparks, publicly pledged not to text and drive by leaving their mark - in this case, their thumbprints, on a pledge banner that traveled the country this past holiday season. Since that time, more than 65,000 people have taken the pledge.

The next stop on the pledge tour? The celeb-packed Jordin Sparks Experience - an annual charity gala for Sparks Charities being hosted in conjunction with the 2010 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl in Miami.

"I am really passionate about this issue and am so thrilled to have an 'X the TXT' event at the Experience," said Sparks. "The event is focused on encouraging people to make a difference in their communities and families. By pledging not to text and drive we can save thousands of lives - choosing to not pick up the phone and keeping your eyes on the road can be the difference between life and death."

During the event, celebrity guests including professional athletes and entertainers (including David Archuleta, Jason Derulo Larry Fitzgerald, Albert Haynesworth and Marcus Spears), teens and their families will be asked to add their thumbprints to a banner as a public pledge not to text and drive. Those who sign the pledge will receive thumb bands they can wear as a reminder and symbol of their pledge. Jordin and Jodi have proudly worn their bands since making the pledge in November.

"Everyone is susceptible to distractions behind the wheel. Our kids learn about what is acceptable driving behavior from us and as parents it's important that we lead by example and make this a family issue. The band is a great reminder of the promise I have made to my kids," added Jodi Sparks, president of MAD, Girls Inc.

Texting is one of the most dangerous distractions facing teens today. According to a recent Allstate Foundation study, 82% of driving teens claim to use cell phones while driving, and 49% admit to being extremely distracted by texting and instant messaging while driving. Recent research conducted by Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute reveals that texting while driving increases the risk of an accident 23 times.

"Allstate has put a stake in the ground to help cut teen fatalities in half by 2015. X the TXT is a great way to fuel the social movement necessary to get it done," said Sari Macrie, vice president of corporate relations. "Taking the pledge not to text and drive is a simple act with tremendous impact. It helps ensure those we love come home safely every day."

The X the TXT even will run from 9 am - 9 pm on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, during the "Cars, Stars and Cigars" event at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach.

X the TXT is Allstate's national campaign aimed at minimizing one of the most dangerous driver distractions facing teens today - texting. The tour is challenging teens and parents to pledge not to text and driver by making a thumb print pledge on a giant banner like this one that is making it's way across the country. The thumb print is a symbol and reminder of the pledge. For more information about the event, visit www.jordinsparksexperience.com. For more information on the "X the TXT' pledge program, visit www.facebook.com/thumbsuppledge

Contact:

Kate Hollcraft
(847) 402-5600

Teen Driving: Jordin Sparks Gives "Thumbs Up" To National Pledge Against Texting and Driving

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:56:56 -0600

American Idol Superstar Teams Up With Allstate to Launch 30-City Tour Designed to Make this "the Safest Holiday Ever"
This release contains: 4 Photos, 1 Related Document

Nineteen-year-old singing sensation Jordin Sparks and her mom, Jodi Sparks, today publicly pledged not to text and drive by leaving their mark - in this case, their thumbprints, on a pledge banner making its way around the country this holiday season. The move kicks off a 30-city tour, "X the TXT: Thumbs Up to the Safest Holiday Ever," sponsored by Allstate Insurance Company during which teens and their families will be asked to add their thumbprints to the banner as a public pledge not to text and drive. Teens who sign the pledge will receive thumb bands they can wear as a reminder and symbol of their pledge.

The holidays are one of the deadliest times of the year for teen drivers. By taking the pledge, Allstate and Sparks hope teens and parents will take personal action to help save lives this holiday season and beyond.

"Unfortunately, it can be easy to forget the dangers of texting and driving when you get behind the wheel. That's why it is important for teens, their friends and families to acknowledge its risks and pledge together not to do it," said Sparks. "I'm glad to take this public pledge with Allstate, because sending a text isn't worth taking a life."

The tour will include live pledge events in each tour city throughout the holiday season and a "Top the Tally" competition to see which city can gather the most thumb pledges. The general public will also be encouraged to get involved by joining a Facebook cause page and taking a virtual pledge not to text and drive. Allstate will donate $1 to the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) for every Facebook "Thumbs Up" pledge supporter (www.facebook.com/thumbsuppledge).

The study also shows parents can have a profound effect on their teen's driving behavior. 81% of teens admit their parents have the most influence on how they drive, and 79% say they are most likely to take driving safety advice from their parents.

"Everyone is susceptible to distractions behind the wheel. Our kids learn about what is acceptable driving behavior from us and as parents, it is important that we lead by example and make this a family issue," added Jodi Sparks.

"Allstate has a long history of promoting safe driving. Our teen driving programs inspire ongoing discussions about safe driving and we know that save lives, said Joan Walker, senior vice president of corporate relations. "The peace of mind that comes from taking the pledge not to text and drive is the best gift anyone could give their loved ones. It helps to ensure teens return home safely for the holidays and every day."

For a complete list of tour cities, tour schedule, and to download the family pledge, please visit www.facebook.com/thumbsuppledge.

Teen Driving: Allstate's Safe Teen Driving Campaign Unveils a Cautionary Live Display in Washington, D.C.

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:12:56 -0500

Allstate Raises Awareness of Safe Teen Driving, Urges Congress to Pass Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act
This release contains: 3 Photos, 1 Related Document

Local teenagers, Montgomery County Police Captain Tom Didone and Members of Congress joined Allstate today to unveil its live display featuring nearly 5,000 key chains, which represent the alarming number of teens who die each year in teen-related car crashes.

"With schools letting out for the summer, this is an important time to remind both teenagers and parents that the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the deadliest timeframe of the year for teenagers behind the wheel," said Dean Pappas, Allstate assistant vice president for federal affairs. "We hope today's event reminds parents and teens to have safe driving discussions on topics, such as wearing seatbelts and not texting or talking on cell phones while driving."

The Allstate Foundation recently conducted a survey of young drivers with the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), which found that despite the recognition of danger, 83 percent of teenagers admit that they talk on a cell phone while driving, and 68 percent admit to texting while driving.

"Teen drivers need to know it doesn't matter what you did yesterday, it matters what you do today and tomorrow," said Captain Didone. "As my family learned, nobody is immune and one mistake can have tragic results."

Captain Didone is a second-generation police officer who has been with the Montgomery County, Md. Police Department since 1986. His 15-year-old son, Ryan, was killed when a car he was riding in veered off the road and struck a tree not far from Damascus High School. According to reports, Ryan was not wearing his seat belt. Captain Didone spends his time today educating teenagers about the importance of staying safe on the road.

The new display is designed to raise awareness of safe teen driving and The Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act (H.R. 1895). The act would create federal graduated driver licensing (GDL) standards that reflect sound research on how best to reduce teen driving crashes. The act is sponsored by Reps. Timothy Bishop (D-NY), Michael Castle (R-DE) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and backed by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) in the U.S. Senate.

"We have to do everything possible to prepare teenagers to drive," said Pappas. "With an ounce of prevention and education today, we can save thousands of teenagers' lives tomorrow."

Results from the Allstate Foundation/NOYS survey also revealed that nearly 40 percent of teens have heard about graduated driver licensing (GDL), but only 23 percent say their parents know their state's GDL laws. Parents who do enforce GDL, however, have a big impact - fewer of their sons and daughters say they've been ticketed (15 percent vs. 23 percent) and fewer have come close to being in a collision (56 percent vs. 72 percent).

"Allstate supports the STANDUP Act because we are committed to reducing teen fatalities on our nation's roads," Pappas added. "Recent findings about dangerous teen driving only underscore the need for Congress and communities across the United States to address this public health risk."

For additional tools and resources on protecting teen drivers, including an interactive parent-teen driving contract, visit www.allstate.com/teen. For additional information on graduated driver licensing visit www.saferoads4teens.org.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through approximately 14,700 exclusive Allstate agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. Encompass® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers. Customers can also access information about Allstate Financial Group products and services at myallstatefinancial.com.

Contact:
Adam Shores
(847) 402-5600

Teen Driving: Minnesota Teens Win National Teen Driving Activism Contest

Wed, 27 May 2009 13:52:56 -0500

To celebrate National Youth Traffic Safety Month, "Act Out Loud: Raising Voices for Safe Teen Driving" honors the nation's best teen-led, school-based safe driving projects
This release contains: 1 Related Document

A group of teens from Anoka High School have been named grand prize winners of the 2009 "Act Out Loud: Raising Voices for Safe Teen Driving" contest. The online teen safe driving contest sponsored by National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and funded by The Allstate Foundation, featured 20 teams of teen activists from across the country who competed to raise awareness for teen safe driving in support of National Youth Traffic Safety Month in May. The winners were determined by the number of online votes they received on the contest Web site, www.ActOutLoud.org.

The Anoka, MN team will receive a $10,000 grand prize for their project, "Get the 411 on Teen Driving! Stay Connected! Save Teen Lives." The Anoka team has decided to use their grand prize funds to develop a grant application process consisting of a student and adult panel, to disperse the money to other school and community groups eager and willing to educate teens about traffic safety. A team from Massapequa High School, Massapequa, NY, earned second place and $5,000 and Coral Springs Charter, Coral Springs, FL, was named the third place winner with a prize of $3,000. All prizes will fund a youth safe driving effort of the school's choice in their respective communities.

"We are extremely proud of these hard working teens and their commitment to get involved in youth safe driving efforts," said Sandy Spavone, executive director of NOYS. "Each year, more than 5,000 young people die in car crashes and about 300,000 are injured. The work of these teens and their community members combined with local enforcement and support will save lives prevent these injuries."

The Anoka High School SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) team created a Web site, www.teendriver411.com, which includes information about their campaign, their state's Graduated Driver Licensing laws and other key safety and driving facts. In addition to developing video PSAs on texting while driving and limiting the number of passengers in the car, the team challenged University of Minnesota athletes to a seat belt competition. Anoka was recognized during a "Day at the Capitol" and was supported by their local law enforcement, city council, school district, and a host of other organizations.

"Anoka High School SADD is committed to educating our peers and community about traffic safety. Our goal is to eliminate teen fatalities and injuries caused by traffic crashes." said team captain Natalie Hayford. "The community has embraced our mission by voting for us and we appreciate the support of citizens, schools, service clubs, and city governments. The communities support helped us to win this award and now it is our goal to use these funds to continue our work and support other youth programs in our community addressing youth traffic safety."

In second place, Massapequa High School's Live Long and Prosper team encouraged safe teen driving by creating video PSAs in English and Spanish, blogging, and engaging their peers and teachers throughout the school to help get the word out. Various classes developed safe driving signs, banners, posters, and a Web site which will eventually house their work. One student painted the mural "Don't be Distracted," depicting a teen girl driving while talking on her cell phone and putting on make-up. The mural is on display in Westfield Sunrise Mall in Massapequa. Another student created a paper mache sports car, with the license plate JST DRV. The team was also recognized by their congressman and the director of the county's drinking driver program.

"We have been working very hard throughout this entire competition to raise awareness about safe teen driving and how every person can do something to help," said team captain Brian Cusick. "Our first priority is to raise teen awareness about risky driving behavior. We plan to use the award funds to help us meet that goal by purchasing a drunk driving simulator that we can use in our community to educate our peers." Cusick adds, "Hopefully, it will show teenage drivers how dangerous it really is to drink and drive."

Third place winners, Coral Springs Charter SADD, focused on the importance of not drinking and driving and encouraged everyone to sign a pledge to be a "safe driver now and forever." The team developed a video highlighting their activities over the contest period including: creating an appreciation day for the Coral Springs Police and Fire Departments and the North Broward Medical Center; interviewing a local journalist and the Miami Heat DJ who encouraged teens not to drink and drive; staging a dramatization of an auto crash and what it would be like to be handcuffed and arrested; hosting a demonstration highlighting the importance of seat-belt use; and holding a "Ghost Out" where students were asked to sign a pledge to be a "safe driver now and forever."

"It took a great amount of time and hard work to make it this far and there are no words that can express the excitement we are feeling to be one of the top teams," said Coral Springs team captain Dahlia Hassanein. "Our team plans to use the award funds to develop more activities that focus on empowering our peers to make positive choices and to give back to the community that supported us on our journey."

Across the nation, the Top 20 Act Out Loud teams documented their activism projects through blog, photo and video postings and educated their peers about safe teen driving in an effort to prevent crashes and risky driving behavior during the summer driving season, which is the deadliest season for teens on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, six of the top ten deadliest days for teen drivers fall between Memorial Day and Labor Day. National Youth Traffic Safety Month activities encourage teens to conduct safe driving projects in May--during prom, graduation and the launch of the summer driving season--so that teens and communities will be positively impacted by safe driving messages.

To view the winning teams' videos and team pages, and for additional information on "Act Out Loud," please visit www.ActOutLoud.org. Also, to view the safe teen driving PSAs by NOYS and The Allstate Foundation, please visit http://www.youtube.com/user/NOYSTube. To sign the National Youth Traffic Safety Month petition, please visit http://www.petitiononline.com/NYTSM09/petition.html.

To secure an interview with a representative from The Allstate Foundation please contact Joanna Augustynski at (847) 402-5604 or jaugc@allstate.com and for a representative from NOYS or one of the winning teams, please contact Kimberly Varner at (202) 842- 3600 x254 or kvarner@hagersharp.com .

National Organizations for Youth Safety
Founded on February 8, 1994, the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) is a coalition of approximately 40 national organizations and government agencies with one common goal, to promote safe and healthy behaviors among America's youth. Through this network, NOYS influences more than 80 million youth and adults. The mission of the NOYS coalition is to promote youth empowerment and leadership, and build partnerships that save lives, prevent injuries, and enhance safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth. NOYS created National Youth Traffic Safety Month to empower youth to develop and lead teen traffic safety projects that will positively impact their communities. For more information visit www.noys.org.

The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. The Allstate Foundation partners with non-profit organizations on community initiatives that promote "safe and vital communities," "tolerance, inclusion, and diversity" and "economic empowerment." Teen driving and empowering victims of domestic violence have been major initiatives for the Foundation since 2005. For more information visit www.ProtectTeenDrivers.com.

Contact:

Joanna Augustynski
Phone: (847) 402-5604

Teen Driving: Young Drivers Understand Risky Behavior But Tempt Fate Behind the Wheel

Thu, 07 May 2009 14:07:56 -0500

New driver data released during National Youth Traffic Safety Month (May)
This release contains: 2 Related Documents

Despite the recognition of the danger, 83 percent of teenagers admit that they talk on a cell phone while driving and 68 percent admit to texting while driving, according to a survey of young drivers released today by National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and The Allstate Foundation.

The survey, which was released in conjunction with National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM), also revealed these young drivers feel talking and texting on cell phones is as dangerous as driving on icy roads and in rain and snow.

"Unfortunately, many young drivers know distracted driving is dangerous, but choose to take those risks when behind the wheel," said Sandy Spavone, executive director of NOYS. "Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death and injuries for teens in the United States, therefore we try to empower youth across the country to make a difference, reduce these crashes and develop and implement youth-led projects during National Youth Traffic Safety Month."

To gain a fresh perspective on current young driver knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, NOYS worked with TRU, a research company, which surveyed 605 young drivers, ages 16- to 20-years-old from across the United States. Through funding support from The Allstate Foundation, this survey found that many young drivers understand risks, but still chose to engage in those dangerous activities while behind the wheel.

"Reducing teen fatalities on our nation's roads is a priority for The Allstate Foundation," said Vicky Dinges, assistant vice president for public social responsibility at Allstate. "The Allstate Foundation believes that putting teens in the driver's seat to develop real solutions that will help change the ways teens think and act in the car is key to reversing the statistics."

Key findings include:

Young drivers believe driving on icy roads (93 percent), driving while texting (87 percent), driving in the rain/snow (79 percent), and driving while talking on a cell phone (63 percent), is dangerous.
Although they admit that texting while driving is dangerous, 80 percent of girls and 58 percent of boys text while driving.
Nearly 40 percent of teens have heard about graduated driver licensing (GDL), but only 23 percent say their parents know their state's GDL laws. Parents who do enforce GDL, however, have a big impact - fewer of their sons and daughters say they've been ticketed (15 percent vs. 23 percent) and fewer have come close to being in a collision (56 percent vs. 72 percent).
Nearly half (42 percent) of teens knew a friend or family member who died or was seriously injured in a car crash. More teens who have lost a peer, friend, or family member in a crash have been involved in a youth traffic safety effort.
65 percent of teens have asked someone to stop driving unsafely, and that number rises to 75 percent for teens involved in a youth traffic safety effort.

The survey was conducted in January 2009, with a margin of error of, of +/-4 percentage points and a 95 percent confidence level. To obtain a summary of the survey data, please visit www.noys.org.

Act Out Loud: Raising Voices for Safe Teen Driving
NOYS and The Allstate Foundation are also partnering to promote the Act Out Loud: Raising Voices for Safe Teen Driving contest, a teen-led and school-based activism competition to help spread the word about safe teen driving in communities across the country. Across the nation, the Top 20 Act Out Loud teams have been documenting their activism projects through blog, photo and video postings at www.ActOutLoud.org. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorite safe driving team online May 11-22, 2009. These online votes will determine which teams will receive money to further their safe driving efforts. Winners will be announced during National Youth Traffic Safety Month on May 27, 2009. Details about the contest can be found at www.ActOutLoud.org.

National Youth Traffic Safety Month
National Youth Traffic Safety Month is a national youth led campaign held each May in response to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicating that over the past decade, seven of the top 10 deadliest days for youth traffic-related deaths historically fall between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In 2007, more than 5,000 youth died as a result of a motor vehicle crash and 300,000 were injured. Hosting NYTSM in May allows the youth to work the entire school year on their projects with a grand finale activity right before prom, graduation and the summer driving season.

To secure an interview with a representative from The Allstate Foundation please contact Joanna Augustynski at (847) 402-5604 or jaugc@allstate.com and for a representative from NOYS please contact Kimberly Varner at (202) 842-3600 x254 or kvarner@hagersharp.com.

National Organizations for Youth Safety
Founded on February 8, 1994, the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) is a coalition of approximately 40 national organizations and government agencies with one common goal, to promote safe and healthy behaviors among America's youth. Through this network, NOYS influences more than 80 million youth and adults. The mission of NOYS is to promote youth empowerment and leadership, and build partnerships that save lives, prevent injuries, and enhance safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth. NOYS created National Youth Traffic Safety Month to empower youth to develop and led teen traffic safety projects that will positively impact their communities. For more information visit www.noys.org.

Contact:

Joanna Augustynski
(847) 402-5604
jaugc@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Teens Experience Layoffs, Reduced Hours, Job Scarcity and Forced Frugality According to New Junior Achievement/Allstate Foundation Poll

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:00:56 -0500

Teens also feeling anxious about economy and going out less often
This release contains: 1 Related Document

Fourteen percent of U.S. teens 15-17 years-old report the need to contribute financially to the family budget, one-third of all teens report less job availability, 53 percent of teens surveyed say they're choosing activities that cost less money and more than 50 percent say they talk about the economy with their friends, according a new poll released today by Junior Achievement and The Allstate Foundation.

Now in its tenth year, the Junior Achievement/Allstate Foundation Teen Personal Finance Poll is an annual, financial IQ pulse check for U.S. teens.

"The results of this poll demonstrate a strong need for increased financial literacy- teens are indicating feelings of uncertainty and anxiety about the economy and its effect on their lives", said Jack E. Kosakowski, president of Junior Achievement USA. "Possessing and using sound money management skills can help young people feel more in control of their futures. Regardless of the state of the economy, Junior Achievement programs teach students how to budget, save, invest and use credit wisely; we're proud to partner with The Allstate Foundation to increase financial literacy for future generations."

"The survey results underscore the importance of teaching young people money management skills as early in life as possible," said Vicky Dinges, assistant vice president for public social responsibility at Allstate. "The Allstate Foundation's support for this kind of education could not be better timed."

Other survey results include:

One third of teens (33 percent) surveyed said there seem to be fewer jobs available.
18 percent of 15 -17 year olds polled said they have lost a job due the economy.
Nearly three-in-ten teens (29 percent) said that the economy is causing them anxiety.
More than three-quarters (77 percent) of the teens polled say that their parents are talking about the economy more than they used to.
Nearly half (49 percent) said their parents had discussed family finances with them as a result of the economy.
15 percent of teens said they have reduced extracurricular activities as a result of the economy.

Junior Achievement and The Allstate Foundation have created a financial literacy program for middle grades students, JA Economics for Success™, which teaches young people money management skills- such as budgeting and understanding the cost of credit- using hands-on, ageappropriate lessons. The program impacts 268,000 students around the world annually.

In addition to providing JA Economics for Success, Junior Achievement and The Allstate Foundation have partnered to create personal finance teaching tools that parents can use to talk to their children about the importance of learning and using sound money management skills. The twelve lessons are downloadable free of charge at http://www.ja.org/programs/programs_save_usa_materials_parents.shtml and teach age-appropriate concepts around budgeting, saving, spending and investing.

The 2009 Teens and Personal Finance poll was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation the week of February 23, 2009, and surveyed 1,000 U.S. teens ages 12-17 via telephone. Its margin of error is +/- 3.2 percent.

About Junior Achievement® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 137 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional five million students served by operations in 123 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

Contacts:

Stephanie Bell
JA Worldwide®
(719) 540-6171
sbell@ja.org

Raleigh Floyd
Allstate Media Relations
(847) 402-5600
Raleigh.floyd@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Twenty Teams of Teen Activists Address the No. 1 Killer of Teens in National Act Out Loud Competition

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:50:56 -0500

This release contains: 1 Related Document

The National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and The Allstate Foundation announced today the Top 20 teams selected to compete in the 2009 Act Out Loud: Raising Voices for Safe Teen Driving contest, a national teen-led and school-based activism competition to help spread the word about safe teen driving this May during National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM). Sixty-four teams applied for the opportunity to compete in the 2nd annual contest.

"Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death and injuries for teens in the United States, so we are glad that youth are getting involved in safe driving efforts and spreading the word to their peers," said Sandy Spavone, executive director of NOYS. "We hope that the more teen drivers and passengers understand what it really means to drive safely, the more they will speak up and help prevent car crashes."

In December 2008, NOYS put out a call to teens across the country to submit project proposals for the contest. Judges selected the Top 20 teams based on originality, level of involvement and communication of key safe driving messages and themes. The Top 20 teams are showcased at www.ActOutLoud.org.

Each team will receive $1,000 and a video camera from The Allstate Foundation to document their progress via blog, photos and video over the next two months. The public will vote online at www.ActOutLoud.org for their favorite teams from May 11-22 to determine the top three winners.

"The Allstate Foundation is committed to harnessing the positive power of peer influence to change the way teens think and act in the car," said Vicky Dinges, assistant vice president for public social responsibility at Allstate. "By empowering teens to become smart driving activists in their schools and communities, we hope to reverse the staggering statistics." Nearly 5,000 young people die in car crashes each year and about 300,000 are injured.

In January 2009, NOYS worked with the research company TRU to gain a fresh perspective on current young driver knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. The data revealed that teens involved in youth traffic safety efforts are more likely to speak up if their friends are driving unsafely. The survey revealed that:

65 percent of teens have asked someone to stop driving unsafely, and that number rises to 75 percent for teens involved in a youth traffic safety effort
55 percent of girls [vs. 46% of guys] have talked to friends about safe driving
Nearly 90 percent of teens have asked passengers to buckle up.

The Top 20 teams are as follows:

Anoka High School SADD, Anoka High School (Anoka, MN)
Cactus Shadows SADD Chapter, Cactus Shadows High School (Scottsdale, AZ)
Community Alliance for a Safer Tomorrow Youth, Upper Merion Area High School (King of Prussia, PA)
Coosa High TSA, Coosa High School (Rome, GA)
Coral Springs Charter SADD, Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, FL)
Henry Sibley SADD, Henry Sibley High School (Mendota Heights, MN)
Hillsboro SADD, Hillsboro High School (Hillsboro, ND)
Hopkins High School 'Keep the Drive' Club, Hopkins High School (Minnetonka, MN)
Lake Howell High School, Lake Howell High (Winter Park, FL)
Liberty High School YOVASO, Liberty High School (Bealeton, VA)
Live Long and Prosper, Massapequa High School (Massapequa, NY)
Midwest Central High School - IPASS - I Practice Auto Safety Skills, Midwest Central High School (Manito, IL)
Mountain Proud Teen Safety Squad, Lee County Alternate High School (Beattyville, KY)
Rock, Don't Roll, Shallowater High School (Shallowater, TX)
Saints Alive!, Vail Christian High School (Edwards, CO)
Soaring Eagles, Smyrna High School (Smyrna, DE)
Students Against Destructive Decisions, Madison Central High School (Madison, MS)
The Informants, Scecina Memorial High School (Indianapolis, IN)
Three Forks FCCLA, Three Forks High School (Three Forks, MT)
VHS Student Council, Valley High School (Las Vegas, NV)

From the Top 20 teams, The Allstate Foundation will award up to $10,000 to the three teams with the most votes, which will be announced during NYTSM on May 27th. The prize will go to the team's local organization to assist them in continuing their youth traffic safety efforts.

Additional team and program information can be found at www.ActOutLoud.org. To secure an interview with a representative from NOYS, The Allstate Foundation, or one of the Top 20 teams, please contact Christy Bennett at (202) 842-3600 x242 or cbennett@hagersharp.com.

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National Organizations for Youth Safety
Founded on February 8, 1994, the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) is a coalition of approximately 40 national organizations and government agencies with one common goal, to promote safe and healthy behaviors among America's youth. Through this network, NOYS influences more than 80 million youth and adults. The mission of NOYS is to promote youth empowerment and leadership, and build partnerships that save lives, prevent injuries, and enhance safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth. NOYS created National Youth Traffic Safety Month to empower youth to develop and led teen traffic safety projects that will positively impact their communities.

Teen Driving: Allstate Holiday Teen Driving Hotspots Study Reveals Highest Rates of Deadly Teen Crashes on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:02:56 -0600

Study release part of Home for the Holidays teen safe driving campaign encouraging parents and teens to discuss and sign Allstate's Parent-Teen Driving Contract
This release contains: 2 Related Documents

Some have called New Year's Eve "amateur hour" on the roads. That couldn't be more true for teen drivers, who, even if they haven't been drinking, lack experience behind the wheel.

At the conclusion of its Home for the Holidays public awareness and policy campaign, Allstate Insurance Company today released study results identifying the deadliest hotspots for teen drivers on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The Allstate Holiday Teen Driving Hotspots study found that the 10 deadliest hotspots among the nation's 50 largest metro areas from New Year's Eve through New Year's Day includes cities from coast to coast. What each area has in common is that over the past eight years they have among the highest fatal crash rates for teen drivers over the New Year's holiday.

According to the study, among the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas (a central city and its surrounding counties), the deadliest hotspots for fatal teen crashes those two days are:

Jacksonville, Fla.
Columbus, Ohio
Richmond, Va.
Birmingham, Ala.
Orlando
Phoenix
Las Vegas
Philadelphia
Sacramento, Calif.
St. Louis

Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of American teens. More than 5,000 teens die on American roads every year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Holiday Teen Driving Hotspots study examines recent federal crash statistics, Allstate claims data on teen collisions, and U.S. Census Bureau statistics to score metro areas across the nation on rates of fatal crashes involving teen drivers during the holidays. The study was conducted by Allstate in conjunction with Sperling's BestPlaces www.bestplaces.net , a Portland, Ore., research firm specializing in demographic studies and analysis.

Allstate's national Home for the Holidays public awareness and policy campaign focuses on encouraging parents to have the safe driving talk with their teens this holiday season. The perfect way to help make that conversation happen is by using the Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract, which helps families lay out expectations for smart driving decisions and consequences if those expectations are not met.

It's the most important gift a parent and teen can give one another this holiday season. It's a conversation and a promise. And best of all, it's free.

Through its national Parent-Teen Driving Contract Sign-Up Drive, Allstate encourages parents and teens to download the contract from www.allstate.com/teen and discuss the importance of safe driving. By signing the contract, parents can help ensure their teens return home safely this holiday season. As part of the program, Actress Vanessa Williams of ABC's "Ugly Betty" and her teen son, Devin, signed their Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract in New York City earlier this month. Media may download broadcast-quality event video, interviews and still pictures at www.thenewsmarket.com/allstate. Consumers may watch event videos at www.youtube.com/allstate.

"Nothing kills more American teens each year than car crashes. That's why the safe driving talk needs to be something every parent has with their teens. Signing an Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract helps with that conversation and shows a commitment to family this holiday season," said Vicky Dinges, Assistant Vice President of Public Social Responsibility for Allstate.

Research conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development indicates intervention materials, including parent-teen driving agreements, increase parental restriction of high-risk teen driving conditions among newly licensed drivers.

As part of its comprehensive safe teen driving efforts, Allstate also calls for a national federal standard for graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws and urges Congress to enact the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act.

Allstate also urges state lawmakers to enact stronger state-level GDL laws that allow novice drivers to gain driving experience gradually and under low-risk situations. An effective tool for saving lives, GDL laws typically involve longer periods of supervised driving, restrictions on late-night driving, limits on teen passengers and cell phone bans for drivers.

A more detailed breakdown on the study results - including other market and state comparisons - can be found at http://allstatenewsroom.com/ ; click on press kits located on the left.

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,900 exclusive agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800-Allstate®. Encompass® and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

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Contact:

Kate Hollcraft
Allstate Insurance Company
(847) 402-5600

Teen Driving: Kate Voegele Rewards Top Holiday Carolers at Competition to Promote Smart Teen Driving

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:00:56 -0600

"Holiday Holla" Contest Finalists "Shout Out" About Smart Driving to Help Save Teen Lives
This release contains: 1 Related Document

Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens taking more than 5,000 lives a year, and the holiday season is a deadly time for teen drivers. But that hasn't stopped a group of teens from spreading good cheer and smart driving messages. Through one of the first contests of its kind called "Holiday Holla," Dillon Craig,18, Jeremy Glick,17, and Sam Feil,17, from Visalia, Calif., won $10,000 from The Allstate Foundation, and were recognized for their creativity in being smart driving advocates. Craig, Glick and Feil performed, along with four other teams, their version of the holiday carol Jingle Bells with smart driving lyrics in front of recording artist Kate Voegele, widely known for her guest starring role on "One Tree Hill," and hundreds of holiday shoppers at the Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minn., on Dec. 6. The teens' song, "Watch the Road," discusses the dangers of speeding, drinking while driving, talking on cell phones and not wearing a seatbelt.

"It was cool to perform in front of so many people with an important message, but more than anything, we want our friends and family to be safe whenever they're on the road, especially during the holidays," said Sam Feil, one of the grand prize winners. "The fact that our team just won $10,000, and may have helped save some lives at the same time is pretty amazing."

With the goal of saving lives during a deadly time of year for teen drivers, The Allstate Foundation - through its national teen-to-teen smart driving movement, Keep the Drive - challenged teens from across the country to rewrite and perform (or "holla") holiday carols with new, catchy lyrics about smart driving. From among the many entries, teens voted on their favorites and the top five most popular performers were selected to belt it out at the finalist event during which a panel of teen and celebrity judges selected the grand prize winner.

Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens," said Voegele. "That's a scary fact, but it's something young drivers have the power to change. It's great for me to have this forum to reach out to teen drivers to promote smart driving in a fun way, especially during the holidays. Hopefully teens will start to think twice before doing something dangerous, like text messaging while driving."

The Holiday Holla event culminated with Voegele presenting the teens with the $10,000 grand prize followed by a performance of four of her songs made famous by "One Tree Hill."

Tomaso DeNoia, 17, Kim Kasten, 17, and Brooke Davenport, 18, of Tom's River, N.J. took second place with a prize of $5,000. Emily Twohig, 14, Sara Sweeney, 14, and Alexa Erickson, 14, from Woodbury, Minn. won $3,000 for third place.

Allstate Insurance agent Jason Frankot from Cottage Grove, Minn., helped kick off the event by welcoming the crowd on behalf of The Allstate Foundation and introducing Voegele.

"The Allstate Foundation's teen driving program is about empowering teens to become smart driving activists in their communities," said Frankot. "It is our hope that the Holiday Holla contest helps positively impact the driving choices of teens across the country this holiday season."

According to a national survey of teens conducted by The Allstate Foundation, more than half (53 percent) of teens say their friends are the most effective influence in getting them to drive more safely. The Holiday Holla contest leveraged the power of the peer-to-peer approach to spread smart driving messages in an unconventional way among teens.

Driving Tips for Teens

Keep your eyes on the road. According to a national survey of teens conducted by The Allstate Foundation, 56 percent of teens talk on their cell phones while driving, and 13 percent read or write text messages. Distracted driving is a major cause of crashes. Make it a goal to celebrate 2009 with your friends instead of the mortician.
Slow down. The survey also found nearly 90 percent of teens admit to speeding. Speeding is one of the main causes for teen car crashes. Be a rebel and drive the speed limit this holiday season.
"Holla" at your friends. Half of teens from the survey said they wouldn't speak up if a friend were driving recklessly. Would you speak up if your life were in danger? If not, make a New Year's resolution to grow a backbone.
Use your buckle. Roughly two-thirds of teens who die in car wrecks are not buckled up, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This season, give your friends the gift of life and tell them to buckle up!

Tips for Parents on How to "Holla" about Smart Driving in the New Year

Practice what you preach. Be a positive role model when you're behind the wheel. Your teen is more likely to be a calm driver, put down the phone and MP3 player, wear a seat belt and follow the rules of the road if they see you do the same.
Don't rush the training process. Just because teens have permits or licenses doesn't mean they're ready for every driving condition. The roads are especially dangerous during bad weather. By easing into the training process, you'll ensure your teen will be ready for most situations.
Empower your teen. Being a passenger in another teen's car can put your teen at risk. Make sure your teen knows it's okay to say something if he or she is uncomfortable while riding with a friend, and help your teen to practice what to say in these situations.
Understand your state's laws. Every state has Graduated Driver Licensing to help new drivers get their initial on-the-road driving experience under lower-risk conditions, protecting them while they are learning. Familiarize yourself and your teen with these requirements, and establish your own rules for when, where, how and with whom your teen may drive.

For more information on Holiday Holla and to view the finalists' videos, visit www.HolidayHolla.com. To learn more about the survey, and for state-by-state teen driving statistics, visit http://www.publicaster.com/info/allstate/teendriving/01/ for a press kit. Additional information on teen driving, including tips for parents on positively impacting their teen drivers, is available at www.ProtectTeenDrivers.com.

About Keep the Drive

Keep the Drive is a national teen-to-teen smart driving movement funded by The Allstate Foundation. It educates teens about the issue, impacts the way they think and act in the car and empowers them to become smart driving activists in their schools and communities and online. For more information, visit www.KeeptheDrive.com.

About The Allstate Foundation

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. The Allstate Foundation partners with non-profit organizations on community initiatives that promote "safe and vital communities," "tolerance, inclusion, and diversity" and "economic empowerment." Teen driving and empowering victims of domestic violence have been major initiatives for the Foundation since 2005.

Contacts:

Joanna Augustynski
847.402.5604
jaugc@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Allstate Insurance Company Holiday Teen Driving Hotspots Study Reveals Areas with Highest Rates of Deadly Teen Crashes from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:58:56 -0600

Study part of Home for the Holidays teen safe driving campaign to urge parents and teens to have a conversation about smart driving during the holiday season and sign Allstate's Parent-Teen Driving Contract
This release contains: 2 Related Documents

With the holiday season a dangerous time for drivers to be on the road, Allstate Insurance Company today released a study identifying three Florida metropolitan areas as the top "hotspots" for fatal teen driving crashes during the holidays. The study includes data for metropolitan areas around the country, and helps to kick off the company's national Home for the Holidays teen safe driving campaign.

The Allstate Holiday Teen Driving Hotspots Study found that the 10 deadliest hotspots for fatal teen crashes among the nation's 50 largest metro areas (a central city and its surrounding counties) from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day are:

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Jacksonville, FL
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL
Kansas City, MO-KS
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV
Oklahoma City, OK
Louisville, KY-IN
Richmond, VA

The study also revealed that over the past eight holiday seasons, teen drivers nationwide have been involved in more than 5,000 fatal crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Salt Lake City, however, topped the list of safest cities for fatal teen crashes, having experienced just four fatal crashes involving teen drivers during the holidays over the past eight years.

The cities that ranked safest for fatal teen crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day are:

Salt Lake City, UT
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA

The study examines recent federal crash statistics, Allstate claims data on teen collisions, and U.S. Census Bureau statistics to score metro areas across the nation on rates of fatal crashes involving teen drivers during the holidays. The study was conducted by Allstate in conjunction with Sperling's BestPlaces (www.bestplaces.net), a Portland, Ore., research firm specializing in demographic studies and analysis.

Today's release of study findings by Allstate continues the company's national Home For The Holidays public awareness and policy campaign, which also calls for a national federal standard for graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws and urges Congress to enact the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act.

However, the focus of the campaign is to encourage parents to have the safe driving talk with their teens this holiday season, as motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of American teens. The perfect way to help make that conversation happen is by using the Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract, which helps families lay out expectations for smart driving decisions and consequences if those expectations are not met.

It's the most important gift a parent and teen can give one another this holiday season. It's a conversation and a promise. And best of all, it's free.

"The safe driving talk, backed up by signing an Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract, shows a commitment to family this holiday season. Through this contract, parents and teens say to one another that they aren't going to let themselves become tragic statistics," said Vicky Dinges, Assistant Vice President of Public Social Responsibility for Allstate.

As part of the campaign, actress Vanessa Williams of ABC's "Ugly Betty" and her teenage son, Devin, signed their Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract in New York City on December 2. With Devin on the verge of getting his learner's permit, Ms. Williams and Devin are giving each other the most important gift of all this holiday season - the safe driving talk.

Media may download broadcast-quality event video, interviews and still pictures at www.thenewsmarket.com/allstate. Consumers may watch event videos at www.youtube.com/allstate.

A more detailed breakdown on the study results - including other market and state comparisons - can be found at http://allstatenewsroom.com/. Click on press kits located on the left.

Contact:

Raleigh Floyd
Allstate Insurance Company
(847) 402-5600
raleigh.floyd@allstate.com

Teen Driving: Vanessa Williams Urges Parents and Teens to Give Each Other the Ultimate Holiday Gift - an "Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract"

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:53:56 -0600

"Ugly Betty" Star and Her Teenage Son Sign a Driving Contract, Launching Allstate's National Home for the Holidays Teen Safe Driving Campaign
This release contains: 2 Related Documents

The most important gift actress Vanessa Williams plans to give her teenage son Devin this holiday season isn't the latest cell phone, a laptop or the hottest new video game. And his big present to her isn't a beautiful pair of earrings.

They're giving each other a conversation and a promise. And best of all, it's free.

With Devin on the verge of getting his learner's permit, Ms. Williams and her son are signing an Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract before he gets behind the wheel. Based on conversations they had at home, their contract lays out expectations for smart driving decisions, and consequences if those expectations are not met.

It's a conversation Ms. Williams and Allstate hope all parents and their teens have this holiday season.

"As a mother of two older daughters, I've given them the car keys and worried whether they would make it home safe. The fact is that our teens are more likely to die in a car crash than from anything else, so having the safe driving talk with your teen is just as important as talking about drugs and sex," Williams said. "As the holidays arrive, parents and teens should use the Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract as way to begin a conversation that can be a gift of life."

Vanessa and Devin signed their contract in New York City today, publicly launching Allstate's national Home for the Holidays teen safe driving campaign.

Through its national Parent-Teen Driving Contract Sign Up Drive, Allstate encourages parents and teens to begin a conversation with their teens about safe driving by completing the interactive contract online at www.allstate.com/teen. By completing and signing a contract, parents can help ensure their teens return home safely for the holidays and every day.

With car crashes the leading cause of death for American teens, it's a vital conversation for parents and teens - especially this time of year. Teens have an increased chance of getting into an accident around the holidays. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, last December alone, nearly 400 teens died in car crashes across the United States. Many of these crashes could have been avoided with a simple conversation at home.

"By putting the contract in as many parent's hands as possible, we hope to inspire them to give their teen the most important gift of all - the safe driving talk," said Vicky Dinges, Assistant Vice President of Public Social Responsibility for Allstate. "Signing the Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract is the first step to making a commitment between parents and teens that they aren't going to let themselves become a statistic."

As part of the campaign, Allstate is also conducting contract signings with other prominent parents and their teens in cities across the country, hoping that more parents and teens heed this important call. This is part of Allstate's tradition of public advocacy aimed at reducing the number of teens killed on America's roads each year.

"As a company dedicated to reinventing protection and retirement for American families, doing whatever we can to avert the tragedy of losing a child is something we must take on," Dinges said.

After 3 p.m. ET, media may download broadcast-quality event video, interviews and still pictures at www.thenewsmarket.com/allstate. Consumers may watch event videos at www.youtube.com/allstate.

# # #

Contact:

Raleigh Floyd
Allstate Insurance Company
(847) 402-5600
raleigh.floyd@allstate.com