CHP, 21st Century Insurance Urge Back-to-School Safety Checklist for Parents to Help Save Lives

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--Aug. 2, 20043, 2004--

ABC's of Travel Safety Are Important Reminders to Keep Families Safe

As families return from summer vacations and prepare to send their children back to school, the California Highway Patrol and 21st Century Insurance remind everyone to review some important Back-to-School Safety ABC's:

1. Adhere to traffic laws and posted signs!

-- Stop signs posted on campuses and painted within parking lots exist to protect you and your children. Come to a complete stop even if no other cars appear nearby.

-- Monitor your speed and slow down in school zones.

-- Talk to your children about staying inside crosswalks, and don't encourage jaywalking when dropping off or picking up children. Jaywalking can be particularly dangerous for small children who are easily obscured by larger vehicles, such as SUVs.

2. Buckle up! Review important safety tips with your children so they arrive at school safely -- from Labor Day to Memorial Day.

-- Do your children carpool with you or other families? Discuss these PASSENGER SAFETY TIPS:

-- Always wear a seatbelt, even for short trips. According to the National Safety Council, most traffic accidents occur close to home, and safety belts lower your risk of injury by 45 percent.

-- Make sure your children know with whom they will be traveling, and devise an emergency plan in case a ride is late or doesn't arrive as expected.

-- Do your children walk to school? Discuss these PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TIPS:

-- Look both ways before crossing the street, and always cross within a crosswalk.

-- If your children participate in after-school activities and must return home at dusk, when drivers' vision is particularly impaired, remind them to wear light-colored clothing to enhance their visibility.

-- Do your children ride bicycles to school? According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 200 children are killed in bicycle-related accidents each year, and about 60 percent of those deaths involve a head injury. California law prevents persons under 18 from riding or being a passenger on a bicycle without wearing helmets meeting specified standards. Discuss these SAFE BIKE-RIDING PRACTICES:

-- Always wear a helmet, and be sure the strap is securely fastened below your chin!

-- Follow street signs and adhere to traffic signals at all times.

-- Walk your bike across the street.

-- Do your children take the bus? Discuss these SAFE BUS-RIDING PRACTICES:

-- When waiting for the bus, stand safely on the sidewalk and remain back from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver indicates it is safe to board.

-- Once on the bus, find a seat quickly and stay seated at all times.

-- Do not distract the driver when the bus is in motion.

3. Check your child's Car seat! California law requires that a child passenger restraint (child safety seat or booster seat) be used on children until they are at least 6 years old or 60 pounds. But just having a seat isn't enough. To be sure your child is safe, ask yourself these CHILD-SEAT SAFETY QUESTIONS:

-- Is the seat installed properly? Download Child Safety Seats: A Parent's Guide, produced by CHP and 21st Century and available in English and Spanish, at www.21st.com. The guide provides 10 important installation safety tips.

-- Has the seat been damaged or recalled for malfunctions? Visit www.nhtsa.org or www.chp.ca.gov OR...

-- Call your local CHP office to schedule an inspection of your car seat, and look for information about upcoming Car Seat Safety Events sponsored by 21st Century Insurance. If your inspected seat is damaged or has been recalled, 21st Century will replace it with a free, brand-new car seat.

-- Be sure anyone who transports your child to and from school has a properly installed children's car seat, as well!

Since CHP and 21st Century Insurance began their joint program, the CHP has inspected more than 2,500 car seats, 21st Century has donated more than 1,600 new child seats, and more than 1,250 broken, recalled or non-age appropriate seats have been collected and discarded.

"At 21st Century, we pride ourselves on our commitment to consumer education and safety," said Joyce Prager, Assistant VP, Community Marketing. "This is the perfect time of year to help educate parents on transportation safety while they prepare their children to return to school. Too many accidents happen close to home, but following the simple tips compiled by 21st Century can help lower those numbers and keep our children safe."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children. Research shows that 96% of parents believe their children are properly buckled in their safety seats, yet data from actual inspections show that 73% of the children riding in child safety seats are improperly restrained. What's more, 71% of traffic fatalities and 66% of injuries could be prevented if every child properly used appropriate car seats.

"All too often, we see kids improperly secured in car seats or even worse, not buckled up at all," said CHP Public Affairs Officer Ron Burch. "It is critical that parents learn how to safely transport their children -- their lives may depend on it," added Burch.

Founded in 1958, 21st Century Insurance Group primarily markets and underwrites personal automobile insurance to customers in California. The Company also provides personal auto insurance in four other western states (Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington) and three midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana and Ohio). 21st provides a superior combination of policy features and customer service at a competitive price. Twenty-four-hours-a-day, 365 days a year, customers have the option to purchase insurance, service their policy or report a claim over the phone directly through our centralized licensed insurance agents at 1-800-211-SAVE or through the Company's full-service website at www.21st.com. 21st Century Insurance Company is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best and A+ by Standard & Poor's.