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Ohio DPS & 21st Century Insurance Sponsor Child Safety Seat Fair

DAYTON, Ohio--As part of a statewide partnership designed to reduce the leading cause of death among children, the Governors Highway Safety Office, Ohio Department of Public Safety and 21st Century Insurance will bring their consumer safety program and the companys spokesperson Erik Estrada to Dayton this weekend. The safety partnership targets this leading cause -- motor vehicle crashes -- by promoting compliance with Ohio Law for Child Safety Restraints.

Certified technicians will conduct child safety seat inspections. The event will be held in the parking lot of the Sprint Store located at 261 North Springboro Pike in Miamisburg (on Route 741, near the Dayton Mall) from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. this Saturday, October 14, with 21st spokesperson and actor Erik Estrada on hand to help deliver this important safety message and sign autographs. The event is co-sponsored with Greater Dayton Area Safe Kids and Sprint.

Ohio law requires that all children who are under 4 years of age and/or under 40 pounds must be restrained in a child safety restraint system. Children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old or more than 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children two years of age and older. More than 50% of passenger vehicle occupants killed from birth through age 15 were unrestrained while riding in the motor vehicle.

Saturdays child safety seat fair will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Sprint Store located at 261 North Springboro Pike in Miamisburg. Certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect and teach parents to install their child safety seats. If necessary, technicians will replace broken, recalled or non-age-appropriate seats with brand-new child safety seats donated by 21st. Technicians will teach parents and caregivers how to use and install the seats. Children must accompany vehicles for proper fitting. Inspection spaces are limited and families will be served on a first come, first serve basis.

Child safety seat restraints and the use of safety seat belts save childrens lives, said Mary Anderson, Regional Occupant Protection Resource Coordinator, Ohio Department of Public Safety. A properly installed child safety seat can make the difference between a safe, healthy child and one whos injured or killed.

The Ohio program is similar to the successful programs in seven other states. Since 21st premiered its safety initiative in California five years ago, more than 8,500 child safety seats have been inspected; 21st has donated more than 7,000 new child safety seats; and more than 3,000 dangerous seats have been destroyed. This Saturdays safety fair is the last of three events held throughout Ohio during 2006. Events were held previously in Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Actor Erik Estrada, best known as Ponch on the hit TV show CHiPs, will join fair participants to spread the word on child seat safety. Wearing your seatbelt and making sure 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 childs safety seat inspected. Just a few minutes could save a life.

To help inform the public, 21st has created Child Safety Seats: A Parents 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 companys corporate headquarters at 1-800-211-SAVE or visiting its Web site, www.21st.com/safety.

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 www.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 & Poors.

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.