Progressive Stages Intentional Vehicle Fire to Demonstrate Arson Techniques

TAMPA, Fla.--April 26, 2006--Progressive :

WHAT:     According to the Florida Division of the State Fire Marshal,
          approximately 3,500 vehicle fires investigated in 2004 were 
          classified as "incendiary," or purposely set fires. These 
          arson numbers are up slightly (six percent) from 3,300 in 
          2003. Fraudulent insurance claims hit consumers where they 
          feel it the most, their pocketbooks. According to the 
          Florida Department of Insurance and The Coalition Against 
          Insurance Fraud, insurance fraud costs Florida families 
          $1,500 per year in increased premiums, 17 percent of which 
          can be attributed to arson and other types of automotive 
          insurance fraud.

          To better understand how arson fires are set and investigate
          their cause and origin, an intentional vehicle fire will be 
          staged to demonstrate arson techniques.

          Visuals include:

          --  Live demonstration of two types of intentionally set 
              vehicle fires.

          --  Examination of vehicles to demonstrate how to 
              investigate and identify arson.

          This fire investigation training program, coordinated by The
          Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, will be attended 
          by more than 150 people from local fire and police 
          departments as well as representatives from Progressive and
          other insurance groups.

WHY:      Having the manpower, tools and knowledge to detect 
          fraudulent arson claims helps to keep the cost of auto 
          insurance down for consumers. That's why Progressive, 
          Florida's fourth largest auto insurance group, is conducting
          this fire investigation training program.

WHO:      Robert Flayman, Florida Claims Manager, Progressive
          Harold Franck, Vice President, Advanced Engineering 
          Associates, Inc. (a professional forensic engineering 
          consulting firm that specializes in fire determination and 
          accident reconstruction)

WHEN:     Wednesday, April 26, 2006
          8:30 a.m. (morning arson demonstration)
          1 p.m. (afternoon arson demonstration)

WHERE:    3225 N. 50th Street (ADESA vehicle auction site)
          Tampa, Fla. 33619

B'GROUND: To help keep the cost of auto insurance down, virtually all 
          auto insurance companies have Special Investigations Units 
          (SIUs) dedicated to investigating potentially fraudulent 
          claims. Progressive has more than 260 SIU investigators 
          throughout the U.S. and more than 35 in the state of 
          Florida.

For additional information, please contact Anne Giaritta at 
LIME pr + promotion at 212-645-6900, ext. 113 or 
agiaritta@limeprpromo.com.