Safest Ohio Drivers Save with New Allstate Drive Wise Discount Program

Performance-based auto insurance program seeks to create safer roads by rewarding long-term, safe driving habits

COLUMBUS, OH-- (Aug. 10, 2011): Trending on high-tech customer rewards for safe driving, Allstate today announced the launch of Drive Wise(SM) in Ohio , a voluntary program that rewards safe and low-mileage drivers with discounts of up to 30 percent. Ohio is the third state to launch this innovative program. Consumers can learn more and sign up for Drive Wise by visiting Allstate DriveWiseor by contacting their local Allstate agent.

"Safe teen driving and distracted driving prevention programs are recent examples of Allstate's leadership as a safe driving advocate. That legacy continues with the introduction of Drive Wise," said Thomas F. Clarkson, Allstate field senior vice president. "Allstate is an industry leader, and Drive Wise proves we're staying ahead of the curve by ensuring our roads are safer for everyone by introducing the right technology to raise awareness of and encourage safer driving habits."

Drive Wise rewards begin immediately when participating customers receive a 10 percent discount during the first policy term just for joining. Subsequent policy terms shift to a performance rating approach, where customers' driving behavior and total mileage driven over the course of the policy term determine the discount. Rates will not go up based on driving scores, but savings of up to 30 percent can be earned by drivers with the safest driving and low mileage scores.

Program enrollees receive a small, wireless telematics device that plugs into their vehicle's onboard computer via the diagnostic port -- under the dash in most car models. No GPS data is collected. The device tracks only those factors used to calculate a performance rating, including:

• Mileage
• Driving time of day
• Hard/extreme braking
• Maximum speed (speeds over 80 mph affect ratings)

The design of Drive Wise is the result of extensive consumer research and hundreds of employee volunteers logging almost 2 million test miles. In one employee test measuring hard stops, aggressive starts and swerving, the percentage of participants scoring in the ideal "safe zone" tripled from 25 percent to 75 percent over the course of the test. Adopted broadly, Allstate believes Drive Wise has the potential to save thousands of lives and millions of dollars in injury losses and property damage each year.

The Allstate Corporation 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.