Office of Gov. Blagojevich, ISP & 21st Century Insurance Sponsor Marion Child Safety Seat Inspection; Statewide Events Emphasize Proper Child Safety Seat Fit, Installation

MARION, Ill.--July 20, 2006--As part of a statewide partnership designed to reduce the leading cause of fatalities among children, the Office of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, the Illinois State Police and 21st Century Insurance will bring their consumer safety program promoting compliance with Illinois law for child safety seats to Marion from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., this Saturday, July 22, in the parking lot of Illinois Centre Mall at 3000 West De Young St.

Illinois law requires all children under 8 years old to be properly secured in a child safety seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children two years of age and for people of every age from four to 34 years. Data show that 80 percent of child safety seats are improperly installed and are a potential source of injury for children.

On Saturday, specially trained officers will inspect child safety seats and teach parents and caregivers to install the seats properly. If necessary, technicians will replace broken, recalled or non-age-appropriate seats with brand-new child safety seats donated by 21st. Children must accompany vehicles for proper fitting 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," said Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent. "A properly installed child safety seat can make the difference between a safe, healthy child and one who's injured or killed."

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 more than 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.

The Illinois program is modeled after the company's successful efforts in seven other states. Since 21st premiered its safety initiative in California five years ago, more than 7,900 child safety seats have been inspected; 21st has donated more than 6,300 new child safety seats; and more than 2,900 dangerous seats have been destroyed.

To help inform the public, Gov. Blagojevich, the Illinois State Police and 21st Century Insurance 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, http://21st.com/safety.

The guide includes key tips such as the following:

-- Anyone who transports a child in Illinois under the age of eight years in a motor vehicle shall be responsible for providing the protection of that child by properly securing him/her in an appropriate child restraint system.

-- All persons age eight to 16 years must be secured in a properly adjusted seat belt regardless of seat position in the vehicle.

About 21st

Founded in 1958, 21st Century Insurance Group is a direct-to-consumer provider of personal auto insurance. With $1.4 billion of revenue in 2005, the company insures over 1.5 million vehicles in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. 21st provides superior policy features and 24/7 customer service at a competitive price. Customers can purchase insurance, service their policy or report a claim at http://21st.com or on the phone with our licensed insurance professionals at 1-800-211-SAVE, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Service is offered in English and Spanish both on the phone and on the Web. 21st Century Insurance Company, 21st Century Casualty Company and 21st Century Insurance Company of the Southwest are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's.

21st Century Insurance Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol TW and is headquartered at 21st Century Plaza, 6301 Owensmouth Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367.