July 4 Again Named Deadliest Day on the Road for All Americans

NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of Americans will hit the road this Independence Day for family parties, barbecues, and celebrations, but for many travelers this upcoming weekend, it may end in heartbreak. According to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), July 4 continues to be the deadliest day on the road for all Americans.

In the U.S., car crashes are the number one cause of death for everyone ages 1-34, with teens crashing four times more often than any other age group. Based on the latest available data, IIHS reports that more than 630 people were killed on July 4 from 2008-2012. If this trend continues, on average, 127 people will lose their lives in a car crash on July 4.

Allstate asks all Americans to do their part to make roads safer for all families during the Independence Day holiday. Here are three simple ways to have a safe holiday on the road:

• Don't drive under the influence. If you consume alcohol during your 4^th of July festivities, have a plan for getting home safely. As The National Safety Commission shares, everyone has options:
  • Designate a sober driver – give that person your keys.
  • Call a taxi or use public transportation.
  • Use your community's designated driver service.
• Get your rest. According to conservative estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driving while drowsy results in 100,000 police-reported crashes each year. Don't allow holiday fun to cut short the amount of time you dedicate to resting, especially before you drive to or from a celebration.
• Never text or drive distracted. All drivers can pledge not to text and drive, and help reduce distracted driving deaths and injuries. Parents and teens can take a pledge together at www.facebook.com/XtheTXT

For teens, July 4 continues to be one of the deadliest days on the road and is tied with two other summer days for fatal car crashes. The summer months are particularly deadly for this population mostly because school is out and more miles are being driven.

Allstate recently launched a unique tool to help parents keep their teens safer on the road.

Star Driver, a smartphone-based tool powered by the new Drivewise® Mobile app, helps identify and teach safe driving behaviors. Star Driver empowers parents and their teenage drivers to focus on safe driving at an early age. Available countrywide, the new program offers a driving agreement between parents and their teens to establish expectations and parameters. Both the parents and teens agree on limits about where, when and how fast the teen is allowed to drive. Parents can be alerted with a text message or email if the teen violates part of the agreement.

Allstate customers can download the Drivewise Mobile app countrywide to use the Star Driver feature. It's available in Google Play and the iTunes App Store.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In 2013, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $29 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 200,000 hours of service across the country.

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SOURCE The Allstate Corporation