Teen Crashes in Ohio Most Likely to Involve Speeding, Lack of Seatbelt Use and Rural...

Teen Crashes in Ohio Most Likely to Involve Speeding, Lack of Seatbelt Use and
Rural Areas in 'Allstate America's Teen Driving Hotspots' National Study

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- A study released by
Allstate Insurance Company today finds that teen crashes in Ohio are most
likely to involve speeding, lack of seatbelt use and occur in rural areas,
according to "Allstate America's Teen Driving Hotspots."
According to the study, lack of seatbelt use and speeding were the leading
causes of teen fatal crashes in Ohio cities from 2000-2006. Over 40 percent of
these fatalities were due to lack of seatbelts in Cincinnati, Youngstown,
Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. More than 20 percent of crashes were
due to speeding in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton and Youngstown, with Akron,
Columbus and Toledo reporting 19.5 percent, 16.3 percent and 15.6 percent
respectively.
The study also found that, nationally, fatal crash rates for teens are
double in rural areas compared to cities and suburbs. The state of Ohio was no
exception, which has a rural crash rate of 44.3 fatal crashes annually per
100,000 teens, nearly double the state's teen fatal crash rate for metro areas
of 22.2. The greatest disparities in rural over metro crash rates are seen in
Utah, North Dakota and Illinois.
The "Allstate America's Teen Driving Hotspots" study examines recent
federal crash statistics and Allstate claims data on teen accidents to score
markets nationally on their rate of fatal accidents involving teen drivers.
The study identifies "hotspot" U.S. cities where fatal teen driving crashes
are more prevalent based on their local teen populations. The study aims to
draw attention to safe teen driving, especially in markets where teen crash
rates are higher. The study release kicks off the company's nationwide "Action
Against Distraction" safe teen driving campaign.
"This study shouldn't just concern parents and leaders in the nation's
deadliest hotspots. Car crashes claim the lives of more American teens than
anything else coast to coast," said Thomas F. Clarkson, Allstate vice
president. "It's time our entire nation acts against this public health
crisis, which claims about 6,000 teen lives every year. Parents should start
talking to their teens -- even before they get behind the wheel -- about smart
driving decisions, while setting a good example through their own good driving
behavior."
The study also showed that 70 percent of fatal teen crashes in Ohio
involved a male driver, compared to female drivers at 30 percent. Cleveland
teens -- both male and female -- appear to be bucking the state trend by
driving safer and smarter behind the wheel. Cleveland's teen fatal crashes are
among the lowest in the 100 largest metro cities in the United States. The
city ranked 96th, with a fatal teen crash rate of 13.25 per year per 100,000
teens. The Cleveland area reported 129 fatal teen crashes from 2000-2006.
The 10 deadliest hotspots among the nation's 50 largest markets are
concentrated in the southern United States and include three in Florida.
According to the study, the metropolitan areas (a central city and its
surrounding counties) that were the greatest hotspots for fatal teen crashes
are:
-- Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla.
-- Orlando/Kissimmee, Fla.
-- Jacksonville, Fla.
-- Nashville, Tenn.
-- Birmingham, Ala.
-- Phoenix, Ariz.
-- Kansas City, Mo. (and Kan.)
-- Atlanta, Ga.
-- Charlotte, N.C.
-- Louisville, Ky.

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. A more detailed breakdown
of the study results -- including other market and state comparisons -- can be
found at http://media.allstate.com/ .
Today's release of the study findings by Allstate Insurance Company kicks
off the company's new national "Action Against Distraction" 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.
In addition, throughout May and June -- months leading up to some of the
deadliest driving days for teens -- Allstate will be conducting teen
distracted driving training courses aimed at reducing the impact of distracted
driving practices such as texting and talking on the phone while driving.
Teens in over a dozen cities throughout the United States will participate in
the distracted driving training courses.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
an average of more than 17 teens a day die on American roads during June, July
and August -- the three months with the highest teen crash rates. Nearly
6,000 teens die in car crashes every year, a statistic that hasn't changed in
more than a decade. While research shows that both parents and teens believe
alcohol is the cause of most crashes involving teen drivers, the primary
causes of most teen crashes -- between 2003 and 2005 -- was driver error (87
percent).
To help teens stay safe through prom, graduation, the summer and beyond,
parents should initiate a conversation about smart driving. This conversation
can include completion of a Parent-Teen Driving Contract, which helps set
guidelines for smart driving and consequences for not living up to those
expectations. Parents and teens can fill out the interactive contract --
setting their own expectations and consequences -- online at
www.allstate.com\teen .
"Parents need to have an honest and open conversation with their teens on
the importance of safe driving and what will and will not be tolerated when
their child is behind the wheel," added Clarkson. "The Parent-Teen Driving
contracts can spur conversations that may help families avoid the tragic
consequences that are too often experienced with fatal teen crashes."
About the Allstate Corporation
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(R)" 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(R). Encompass(R) and
Deerbrook(R) 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.
SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company

Lisa Finney, Corporate Relations of Allstate Insurance Company,
+1-248-994-9394, Lisa.Finney@allstate.com