Visalia Tops In California on 2012 "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report™"

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Allstate Insurance Company (NYSE: ALL) today released its eighth annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report™." The report, based on Allstate claims data, ranks America's 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency to identify which cities have the safest drivers.

In the 2012 report, Visalia ranks as California's safest driving city and one of the safest U.S. driving cities, landing at 24^th on the list. According to the report, the average driver in Visalia will experience an auto collision about every 11 years, a rate about 12 percent better than average.

"Drivers in California are making great progress toward keeping America's roadways safer," said Phil Telgenhoff, Field Vice President of Allstate in California. "We salute Visalia's best drivers."

"Elsewhere in California, drivers should not be discouraged by their city's ranking. Instead, we want the report to challenge drivers to make positive changes to their driving habits that will in turn make their city a safer place to live, work and raise families," Telgenhoff urges.

The Allstate America's Best Driver's Report was created to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on safe driving that saves lives.This year's top honor of "America's Safest Driving City" is Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the fifth year the city has held the top spot in the report's eight-year history.

Here is a look at how California cities compare to one another and in the U.S. rankings:

Car crash fatalities are at the lowest level they've been since 1949, but still average more than 32,000 every year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"It is vital for us to educate American drivers about safe driving behaviors they can practice on the road that will help make our roadways safer," according to Telgenhoff. "Minimizing distractions, obeying traffic laws, and using your car's safety features like turn signals and headlights, all are ways to be safer, no matter where you drive."

A geographical glance shows that the median and average rank of the 15 cities of the Central Valley and Inland Empire surpasses the 30 other cities elsewhere in California.

Big-city vs. Small-city Driving
Different levels and types of traffic, noise and activity, as well as varying road conditions and rules, can make big city driving different than driving in smaller cities or more suburban areas. Allstate offers the following tips for driving in both settings.

• Allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
• Stay alert.
• Get directions to where you're going.
• Watch the speed limit.
• Look out for pedestrians, especially children.
• Keep a safe distance – especially around large vehicles.

The Report
For the past eight years, Allstate actuaries have conducted an in-depth analysis of company claim data to determine the likelihood drivers in America's 200 largest cities will experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average. Internal property damage reported claims were analyzed over a two-year period (from January 2009 to December 2010) to ensure the findings would not be impacted by external influences such as weather or road construction.

A weighted average of the two-year numbers determined the annual percentages. The report defines an auto crash as any collision resulting in a property damage claim. Allstate's auto policies represent about 10 percent of all U.S. auto policies, making this report a realistic snapshot of what's happening on America's roadways.

To view the complete "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report," or to see previous year's results, log onto www.allstatenewsroom.com.

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 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 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^®.

Notes: The report analyzes cities from the Census Bureau's Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places over 50,000, ranked by July 1, 2011. The Allstate data excludes cities in the state of Massachusetts, as Allstate did not provide insurance in Massachusetts for the two-year time period reflected in this report. Other cities not represented by any zip codes found in Allstate data: Lakewood, Colo., Pembroke Pines, Fla and West Valley, Utah. The Allstate Best Drivers Report is produced solely to boost the country's discussion about safe driving and to increase awareness of the importance of being tolerant and attentive behind the wheel. The report is not used to determine auto insurance rates. A state specific adjustment was utilized for the Michigan cities to account for the unique coverage offered in that state.

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company