Allstate Press Release: Child passenger Safety

05/24/96

NEW INFORMATION ON CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY CAN SAVE LIVES


APP and Allstate Launch 'All Kids Safe'

CHICAGO, May 22 -- Whether it's a cross country
vacation or a short jaunt for ice cream, American families are on the go
during the summer months.  New research and information concerning child
auto passenger safety can help reduce injuries and save lives on roads
and highways this summer season.

Two long-time advocates of child safety, The American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) and Allstate Insurance Company, have joined forces to
create "All Kids Safe," a new public education campaign.  The first
phase of the campaign, to debut Memorial Day weekend, focuses on auto
passenger safety for children.

Many Allstate agents and AAP pediatricians across the country will
distribute free information and materials that can save young lives.
The partners will develop future programs on safety at home and safety
at play.

NEW CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY INFORMATION

While more parents of small children use car seats today, many
unknowingly use the seats improperly, have not purchased the correct
seat for their car model or graduate children from infant, convertible
and booster seats at too young an age.  Such honest mistakes can have
tragic consequences in a vehicle crash.  The "All Kids Safe" campaign
addresses these issues and more.  Based on recent research and findings,
AAP and Allstate place a strong emphasis on the following:


  
 Infant safety seats should face the rear of the vehicle
until babies are approximately 20 pounds and one-year-old.

  
 The rear vehicle seat is the safest place for children of
any age to ride.

  
 A rear facing infant safety seat must never be  placed in
the front passenger seat of any  vehicle equipped with a
passenger-side air bag.

  
 Proper installation and use of a child safety seat are
critical.  Many parents do not know they are using the seat
incorrectly.


"Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death to children.
Just as immunizations can prevent deadly diseases, car safety seats can
save children's lives on the road.  The American Academy of Pediatrics
is proud to join with Allstate to focus attention on child passenger
safety," says AAP president Maurice E. Keenan, MD, FAAP.

"As a leading auto insurance provider, we are exposed to one of
life's cruelest tragedies - the death of children in car accidents,"
says Jerry D. Choate, chairman and chief executive officer of Allstate.
"The bitter truth is that a large number of these  incidents could be
prevented if children were properly secured in vehicles.  Partnering
with AAP brings added impact to our message - the proper use of car
seats saves young lives and reduces debilitating injuries."

FREE "ALL KIDS SAFE" MATERIALS

"All Kids Safe" will educate adults on the correct use of infant
and child safety seats, child booster seats and safety belts.  Printed
materials available to the public free of charge include the Family
Shopping Guide to Car Seats.  This user-friendly brochure highlights
guidelines on how to select the most appropriate seat and use it
properly as well as the features and costs of various manufacturers' car
seats.

The One Minute Safety Check-Up  (available in Spanish and English)
will offer parents a short check list to complete before they leave the
hospital with their newborn or take any car trip with an infant or small
child.  Attractive, four-color posters will be displayed in public
venues throughout communities to help build awareness concerning child
passenger safety.

In addition to pediatrician and Allstate agent offices, materials
will be available through some local PTAs, libraries, police
departments, child care facilities and hospitals. Some pediatricians and
Allstate agents will host free child safety presentations in their
communities.

THE NEED FOR EDUCATION

Automobile crashes are a leading cause of death among our nation's
pre-school age children. Hundreds of youngsters die in car crashes
every  year and 80,000 are injured. Experts report that 70 percent of
these deaths could be prevented through the proper
use of car seats.

In recent years we have seen an increased knowledge of child
passenger safety. All 50 states now have laws requiring car safety
seats or child restraint devices for young children but there is still a
great deal of work to be done. Forty percent of children do not ride in
safety seats and many more travel in safety seats that are not used
correctly.

"All Kids Safe" is funded through an $80,000 grant from The
Allstate Foundation.  The Allstate Insurance Company has invested
more than $50,000 in additional support.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 50,000
pediatricians dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants,
children, adolescents and young adults.

The Allstate Corporation, the parent of Allstate Insurance
Company, is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurance
company. The Allstate Foundation grants funds to non-profit
organizations in the areas of neighborhood revitalization, automobile
and highway safety and personal safety.