Who Ranks Best Behind the Wheel?; 2nd Annual ''Allstate America's Best Drivers Report'' Reveals Cities with Safest Drivers

The largest city in South Dakota moves up from the number two spoton last year's report from Allstate Insurance Company - replacingCedar Rapids, Iowa, whose drivers are parked in the number threeposition on this year's list.

This ranking of the best drivers in the 200 largest cities inAmerica revealed that the average driver in Sioux Falls willexperience an auto collision every 14.3 years, compared to thenational likelihood of a crash every 10 years - making them 30 percentless likely to have an accident than the national average.

Allstate researchers analyzed company claim data to determine thelikelihood drivers in America's 200 largest cities would experience avehicle collision compared to the national average.

"The Allstate America's Best Driver's Report elevates thecountry's discussion on safe driving. Our hope is that each year theAllstate report helps facilitate an ongoing dialogue that saveslives," said George Ruebenson, Allstate senior vice president forclaims service.

"We reward safe drivers everyday with Allstate(R) Your Choice AutoInsurance features such as Safe Driver Bonuses and Deductible Rewards.The Allstate America's Best Driver's report is yet another wayAllstate is recognizing safe drivers and the communities where theylive."

City officials in Sioux Falls are excited, but not surprised theyare the home of Allstate's America's Best Drivers for 2006.

"With so many crashes occurring near one's home, it's reassuringthat our residents are the safest on the road," said Dave Munson,mayor of Sioux Falls. "The quality of our community driver educationprograms combined with the consideration of our traffic engineeringdepartment goes a long way to make our roadways safe for everyone. Wewere excited to be number two on last year's list, but are thrilled tobe the best in the country this year."

The Top 10

Sioux Falls drivers jumped to the number one spot in this year'sreport. However, Iowa, Tennessee and Colorado stand out as also beinghome to some of the country's safest drivers. Two cities from eachstate drive into the top 10 on Allstate's list -- similar to theinaugural report findings in 2005. Midwestern drivers also appear toheed the safety call. Five out of the 10 top cities are in America'sheartland, according to the report.
Rank/City Collision Likelihood Average Years
Compared to National Between Collisions
Average
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1. Sioux Falls, S.D. 30.2% less likely 14.3
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2. Fort Collins, Colo. 24.0% less likely 13.2
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3. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 24.0% less likely 13.2
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4. Huntsville, Ala. 21.6% less likely 12.8
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5. Chattanooga, Tenn. 21.2% less likely 12.7
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6. Knoxville, Tenn. 20.7% less likely 12.6
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7. Des Moines, Iowa 20.6% less likely 12.6
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8. Milwaukee 20.0% less likely 12.5
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9. Colorado Springs, 19.0% less likely 12.3
Colo.
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10. Warren, Mich. 18.9% less likely 12.3
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"What makes this report from Allstate valuable is that it is basedon real world collision data from actual drivers," said AllanWilliams, the recently retired chief scientist and researcher at theInsurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Also, Allstate's autopolicies represent about 12 percent of the U.S. population, makingthis report a realistic snapshot of what's happening on America'sroadways."

2006 "Road Scholars" By Population

Cities with More Than 1 Million Residents...

For the second consecutive year, drivers in Phoenix are the safestbig city commuters according to Allstate. Drivers in Phoenix canexpect to bump into another vehicle on the roadway every 9.7 years -slightly more frequent than the national average. A big apple a dayapparently keeps the insurance adjuster away in New York. NYC moves tonumber three on Allstate's breakout list of cities with populationsgreater than 1 million people.
Rank/City Collision Likelihood Average Years
Compared to National Between Collisions
Average
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75. Phoenix 3.6% more likely 9.7
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113. San Diego 11.9% more likely 8.9
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139. New York City 18.6% more likely 8.4
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160. San Antonio 24.6% more likely 8.0
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163. Houston 25.5% more likely 8.0
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178. Chicago 33.0% more likely 7.5
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183. Dallas 37.2% more likely 7.3
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184. Los Angeles 42.9% more likely 7.0
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186. Philadelphia 51.0% more likely 6.6
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Cities with 500,000 to 1 Million Residents...

Milwaukee drivers topped the list of safest drivers in mid-sizedcities with populations between 500,000 to 1,000,000 residents. Whilethis is the second year that the Wisconsin city has claimed thishonor, Milwaukee drivers showed definite driving improvement by movinginto this year's overall top 10 ranking as well. Drivers in nine ofthe top 10 cities in this break-out list for mid-sized cities are lesslikely than the national average to experience a collision.
Rank/City Collision Likelihood Average Years
Compared to National Between Collisions
Average
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8. Milwaukee 20.0% less likely 12.5
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31. Memphis, Tenn. 8.3% less likely 10.9
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35. Nashville, Tenn. 7.4% less likely 10.8
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37. Louisville, Ky. 6.9% less likely 10.7
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39. Denver 6.5% less likely 10.7
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47. El Paso, Texas 4.2% less likely 10.4
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48. Detroit 3.5% less likely 10.4
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50. Indianapolis 3.0% less likely 10.3
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58. Oklahoma City 1.3% less likely 10.1
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63. Tucson, Ariz. 0.2% more likely 10
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Safe Driving Secrets

"Many factors contribute to how cities rank in the report," saysWilliams. "Some factors - demographic makeup, commuting patterns andcity design - cannot be changed; others, like smart trafficengineering and strong law enforcement initiatives, can help toprevent crashes in metropolitan areas."

"Sioux Falls' number one ranking does not come as a surprise tome. We are fortunate to live in a community where courtesy andpatience are second nature; this shows through with our drivers," saidSioux Falls Police Chief Doug Barthel.

Allstate recommends some additional safe driving secrets...

-- Green means go, with caution - When a light turns green, make sure the intersection is clear before you go.

-- Avoid disastrous distractions - Safe driving takes concentration. If you're talking on a cell phone or changing the radio station, you're probably not paying enough attention to the road in front of you.

-- Know your limits - Exceeding the speed limit is one of the most common causes of accidents because it gives you less time to stop or react.

-- Signals for safety - Using your turn signal alerts the cars behind you to what you're doing and gives them time to react.

-- Maintenance matters - Ultimately, your safety also depends on the maintenance of your car. Make sure your car's brakes, exhaust system, tires, lights, battery and hoses are in good working order.

Crashes Happen

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationTraffic Facts, more crashes occur on Saturdays than any other day ofthe week. Sunday ranked second and Friday came in third. Additionally,most collisions happen between 3 and 6 p.m. From 6 to 9 p.m. rankedsecond and 9 p.m. to midnight finished third. The fewest crashes occurbetween midnight and 3 a.m.

Free Gas Frenzy

Drivers were lined up before dawn in Sioux Falls for the chance toget free gas compliments of Allstate Insurance Company. The mayor ofSioux Falls and other city officials joined local Allstate agents topump petrol for happy morning commuters - delivering some unexpectedrelief from near-record high gas prices. The event congratulatesdrivers in South Dakota's largest city for being the best in thecountry according to the 2006 Allstate America's Best Drivers Report.

Downlink Details - Satellite Feed Coordinates:

Allstate is providing visuals and interviews from the Sioux Fallsfree-gas give away at the following coordinates...
Wednesday, May 24, 2006:

1:15 PM ET to 1:45 PM ET - AMC 2 (Ku-Band), Transponder 16;
Audio at 6.2 & 6.8
Downlink Freq: 11720 (H) Satellite
Control Room: 312.925.5838

7:45 PM ET to 8:00 PM ET - Intelsat A 6 (C-Band), Transponder 15;
Audio at 6.2 & 6.8
Downlink Freq: 4000 (V) Satellite
Control Room: 312.828.0862

Thursday, May 25, 2006:

4:15 AM ET to 4:30 AM ET - Intelsat A 6 (C-Band), Transponder 15;
Audio at 6.2 & 6.8
Downlink Freq: 4000 (V) Satellite
Control Room: 312.828.0862

Allstate Safety Leadership Award

The City of Sioux Falls will also be presented with the AllstateSafety Leadership Award. Later this summer, Allstate will honormotorists in the city by presenting Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson withthe Allstate Safety Leadership award as recognition for the safedriving habits of the city's residents.

The Math Behind the Rankings

To create the report, Allstate researchers analyzed internalProperty Damage reported claims over a two-year period (from January,2003 to December, 2004) to ensure the findings would not be affectedby external influences such as weather or road construction. Aweighted average of the two-year numbers determined the annualpercentages. The report defines an auto crash as any collisionresulting in a property damage claim.

Safety Can Save Money

Allstate is recognizing Sioux Falls with a celebratory free gasgiveaway today. It is also rewarding safe drivers across the countrywith Allstate (R)Your Choice Auto Insurance. Allstate(R) Your ChoiceAuto Insurance rewards safe driving through optional features such asSafe Driver Bonuses where you can get cash off your renewal bill andDeductible Rewards where you earn $100 off your deductible up to $500for each year of safe driving. And for those not able to stay out ofharm's way, Your Choice Auto provides enhanced protection throughAccident Forgiveness where your rates don't go up just because of anaccident and New Car Replacement where you can get a new car if youtotal your car in the first three years. Your Choice Auto is notavailable in every state, but is currently available in 41 statesrepresenting 82 percent of the U.S. population.(1)

To view the complete 2006 Allstate America's Best Drivers Reportlisting to see previous year's results, log onto www.allstate.com.

Now celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of AllstateInsurance Company, The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is thenation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely knownthrough the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstatehelps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect whatthey have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately14,100 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. andCanada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such asauto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, orin select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R). Encompass(SM)and Deerbrook(R) Insurance brand property and casualty products aresold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate FinancialGroup provides life insurance, supplemental accident and healthinsurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed forindividual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributedthrough Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financialinstitutions and broker-dealers.

Note: The Allstate data excludes cities in the state ofMassachusetts, where Allstate Insurance Company does not offerinsurance products.

(1) Features are optional and subject to terms and conditions. Notavailable in every state. Deductible Rewards apply to collisioncoverage. In PA & NY deductible amount won't go below $100. SafeDriving Bonus won't apply after an accident.