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Fatigue, Alcohol and Child Safety Issues Expected To Rise Dramatically This Summer

20 July 2000

Survey by Progressive InsuranceUncovers the Truth About Summer Driving
      

    MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio - Summer is a time for long weekends, relaxation and 
road trips.  But according to a survey by Progressive Insurance, it could be 
one of the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road and there are 
specific dangers every driver should be aware of.

    Progressive's survey showed that fatigue plays a major role in summer
driving behavior: 57 percent of respondents said they were more likely to
drive when overtired or fatigued while driving home from a weekend getaway.
In addition, 59 percent of people reported that they were more likely to drive
when they shouldn't have because they wanted to get to a summer getaway in one
night.

    More than 400 consumers participated in the online survey from May 16, 2000 
through May 24, 2000.

    The survey also found some surprising results regarding drinking and
driving: 26 percent of respondents reported driving when they shouldn't due to
alcohol consumption at summer barbecues.  Twenty-three percent of consumers
said they would be more likely to drive after drinking at a summer barbecue if
they did not have very far to drive to get home.

    "People are stressed out working too many hours each week and traveling
for business.  So when it comes time for summer, people's attitudes are
different -- they want to enjoy the outdoors, relax and de-stress," said Alan
Bauer, Internet Business Leader, Progressive.  "But what we found was that
while people go to great lengths to enjoy the summer, they may be pushing the
limits of safety and letting their busy lives affect their driving habits.
It's extremely important that consumers are aware of the risks that they and
their friends and neighbors create when traveling this summer."

    The progressive.com study found that more than one-fifth of consumers
reported having taken their kids out of their car seats while driving on a
summer trip.  And it looks like women are more likely to take chances -- women
were four times more likely than men to break a traffic law (i.e. speed, run a
red light, drive on the shoulder) while stuck in summer traffic with kids in
the car.  Also, families with children were six times more likely to drive
home from a long day trip while fatigued during the summer than those people
without children.

    Progressive, headquartered in Mayfield Village, Ohio, is one of the nation's 
largest auto insurance companies and the leading provider of insurance services 
and products via the Internet. 
    
                               Did You Know ...
              According to the Rrogressive Countrywide Survey

    Let's Just Get Home ... In One Piece
    Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they were more likely to drive
during the summer when over-tired or fatigued while driving home from a
weekend getaway.

    Driving Distractions
    When asked what was most likely to take their attention off the road while
driving in the summer, the top five answers were:
    1. fatigue - 34 percent
    2. talking on the cell phone - 17 percent
    3. singing along with the radio/music playing in the car - 16 percent
    4. getting angry at other drivers while in heavy traffic - 12 percent
    5. having children in the car - 10 percent

    The Price of a Busy Lifestyle
    Fifty-nine percent of consumers reported that they were more likely to
drive when they shouldn't during the summer because they wanted to get
somewhere in one night.

    Drinking and Driving
    Twenty-six percent of respondents reported they drive when they shouldn't
due to alcohol consumption at summer barbecues.

    Short, But Dangerous, Distances
    Twenty-three percent of consumers said they would be more likely to drive
after drinking at a summer barbecue if they did not have very far to drive to
get home.  In another surprising admission, the number one reason reported for
driving with a child out of their car seat during the summer was for driving
only a short distance.

    Parental Advisory
    More than one-fifth of consumers reported taking their kids out of their
car seats while driving on a summer trip.

    Women Drivers
    Women were four times more likely than men to break traffic laws while
stuck in summer traffic with kids in the car.  In addition, women were twice
as likely as men to drive while overtired on their way home from a long day
trip during the summer with kids in the car.

    A Child's Influence?
    Families with children were six times more likely to drive home from a
long day trip while fatigued during the summer than those people without
children.

    Move Over Sonny, I'm Trying To Get Home
    Surprisingly, consumers ages 55 to 64 were twice as likely to speed on a
Sunday evening after a weekend getaway during the summer than consumers ages
18 to 24.

    Drinking Ages
    Respondents ages 55 to 64 were six times more likely to drive after
drinking while attending a summer sporting event that respondents ages 18 to
24.

    Running Late
    Forty-eight percent of consumers reported experiencing road rage while
driving to work in rush hour traffic during the summer.

    Does Mommy Let You Out Of The Car Seat?
    Men were twice as likely as women to drive in the summertime with their
child out of their car seat if they were driving only a short distance.

    Ahh, the Wisdom of the Ages
    The number one age group - 60 percent of people ages 55 to 64 experienced
road rage while on their way to work during the summer.

    It's Legal To Ride The Shoulder, Isn't It?
    Fifty-three percent of respondents were more likely to break a traffic law
if caught in summer traffic.

    It's Best To Use Your Blinker
    Twenty-two percent of respondents said they have experienced road rage if
someone cut in front of them without signaling during the summer.

    Another Negative Divorce Statistic
    Divorced respondents were twice as likely than married respondents to take
their child out of their car seat so that they can sleep better/longer on a
long car trip during the summer.

    Summer Aggravation
    Forty-nine percent said the most aggravating time to drive during the
summer was on Friday evenings on their way to a weekend getaway, followed by:
returning from a trip on Sunday evening (27 percent) and returning from a
weekend getaway on Monday morning (19 percent).