Office of Highway Safety, Arizona DPS to Host Child Safety Seat Fair in Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz.--Nov. 19, 2005--21st Century Insurance :

-- Nov. 20 Fair Is Part of Statewide Program to Emphasize Safety through Inspection Events, Bilingual Guides; Actor Erik Estrada to Help Deliver Message

In a new co-sponsored safety program designed to reduce the leading cause of fatalities among children, Gov. Janet Napolitano, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and 21st Century Insurance have united to roll out a consumer safety program promoting compliance with Arizona law for child safety seats. The law requires that a child passenger restraint (child safety seat or booster seat) be used on all children under five years of age.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children from two to 14 years of age. NHTSA recently updated their information on improper child safety seat installation. New data show that 80 percent of child safety seats are improperly installed and are a potential source of injury for children, up from 73 percent in 2004.

"Child safety seats save lives," said Gov. Janet Napolitano. "It is a state priority to get the message out to Arizona's families to make sure they know how to use child safety seats properly in order to protect their children from unnecessary injury or worse."

To help reduce preventable injuries and deaths, Gov. Napolitano, the Governor's Office, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and 21st Century Insurance will host a safety fair at Target, 1225 W. Irvington Rd. from 1 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 20, 2005. Arizona DPS will provide specially trained officers to inspect and, if necessary, replace and install a new safety seat donated by 21st. They will show parents and caregivers how to use and install the seats. Children must accompany their parent or guardian and will be helped on a first come, first served basis.

"Recent national statistics show that more than 80 percent of children in vehicles are unrestrained or buckled up incorrectly," DPS Director Roger Vanderpool said. "A properly installed child safety seat can make the difference between a safe, healthy child and one who's injured or killed."

Actor Erik Estrada, best known for his role on the hit TV show "CHiPs," will join fair participants to spread the word on child seat safety. "Wearing your seatbelt and making sure you and your children are properly buckled up is the best insurance against being killed or seriously injured in many vehicle crashes," Estrada said. "I urge all parents to have their child's safety seat inspected. Just a few minutes could save a life."

Federal statistics show a critical need for education regarding booster seat use:

-- According to recent data from NHTSA, at least 80 percent of children who should ride in booster seats currently do not.

-- NHTSA recommends that children who weigh over 40 pounds or who have outgrown their 5-point harness system should be placed in a booster seat.

-- Using a booster seat allows the seat belt to be positioned across the child where it is most effective and lowers the risk of injury to children in crashes by 59 percent, compared with the use of vehicle safety belts.

The Arizona program is modeled after the company's successful efforts in California. Since 21st premiered its child safety seat initiative in California four years ago, more than 5,000 child safety seats have been inspected; 21st has donated more than 4,000 new child safety seats; and more than 2,100 broken, recalled or non-age-appropriate child safety seats have been discarded.

To help inform the public, Gov. Napolitano, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona DPS and 21st Century have created "Child Safety Seats: A Parent's Guide" to explain proper seat installation and use. The guide, available in English or Spanish, can be obtained at the safety fairs as well as directly from 21st by contacting the company's corporate headquarters at 1-800-211-SAVE or visiting its Web site, www.21st.com.

Founded in 1958, 21st Century Insurance Group is a direct-to-consumer provider of personal auto insurance. With $1.3 billion of revenue in 2004, the company insures over 1.5 million vehicles in California, Texas, Illinois, Arizona and five other states. headquartered at 21st Century Plaza, 6301 Owensmouth Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367.