Allstate Creates Free Gas Frenzy in Phoenix; Report Ranks Phoenix Drivers Best Big City Commuters in the Country.

PHOENIX -- Drivers were lined up before dawn in Phoenix for the chance to get free gas compliments of Allstate Insurance Company. The second annual Allstate America's Best Drivers Report named Phoenix as having the best big city drivers in the country. To say thank you, pumps at the Pasco station on Greenway Road in Phoenix were reset to read zeros while Allstate gave away 7,000 gallons of free gas to Phoenix drivers.

"Congratulations Phoenix. Our hope is that the Allstate America's Best Drivers Report helps people think about safety and fosters an ongoing dialogue that saves lives," said Mike Clark, Allstate Southwest Region vice-president based in Phoenix.

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

The average Phoenix driver experiences a vehicle collision every 9.7 years, slightly more frequent than the national average of an accident every 10 years, but the best among cities with more than one million people, according to Allstate's report.

"I commend Phoenix drivers, who should be proud of the fact that we're the safest of any American major city," said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. "We know there's still work to be done to stay the safest, and to improve our overall ranking. We need to slow down, be considerate, and be mindful of the fact that we're a fast-growing region and a tourist destination. We're sharing the road with drivers who may be new to Phoenix. Be kind and stay safe."

Around The Country

Phoenix ranks number one among cities with more than one million residents. San Diego is number two among the big cities followed by New York, San Antonio, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

In terms of overall ranking in the national report, Phoenix drivers came in at number 75. Sioux Falls, South Dakota has the safest drivers in the U.S., according to the 2006 Allstate America's Best Drivers Report. The largest city in South Dakota moves up from the number two spot on last year's report from Allstate Insurance Company - replacing Cedar Rapids, Iowa, whose drivers are parked in the number three position on this year's list. Ft. Collins, Colorado is second.

This ranking revealed that the average driver in Sioux Falls will experience an auto collision every 14.3 years, compared to the national likelihood of a crash every 10 years, making them 30 percent less likely to have an accident than the national average.

Phoenix Factors

The city's massive size, more than 500 square miles, means Phoenix drivers face different road conditions than those in other cities with more than one million people. According to the Phoenix Planning Department, the city is 515.8 square miles and the April 2006 population projection is 1,551,635 people.

"We operate and maintain more than 4,000 miles of roadway in Phoenix," said Phoenix Traffic Engineering Supervisor Mike Cynecki. "One of the factors for a relatively low crash rate is a very efficient and safe roadway system. We have a relatively high level of maintenance on our roads and a very good traffic signal system."

Tucson And Other Arizona Cities

Arizona's second largest city, Tucson, is among the 10 safest mid-size cities, with mid-size defined as populations of 500,000 to 1 million. Tucson drivers average exactly 10 years between accidents. Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale and Mesa all average about 10 years between collisions. Drivers in Peoria, Chandler and Tempe are likely to be in a collision at a slightly higher rate.

2006 Arizona Cities By  Collision Likelihood vs.     Average Years
 Rank - Rank/City            National Average      Between Collisions
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45.  Gilbert                 5.0% less likely            10.5
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51.  Scottsdale              3.0% less likely            10.3
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56.  Glendale                1.9% less likely            10.2
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61.  Mesa                    0.9% less likely            10.1
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63.  Tucson                  0.2% more likely            10.0
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66.  Peoria                  0.6% more likely             9.9
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71.  Chandler                2.3% more likely             9.8
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75.  Phoenix                 3.6% more likely             9.7
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109. Tempe                  10.9% more likely             9.0
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The Math Behind The Rankings

To create the report, Allstate researchers analyzed internal property damage reported claims over a two-year period (January 2003 to December 2004) to ensure the findings would not be impacted by external influences such as weather or road construction. A weighted average of the two-year numbers determined the annual percentages. The report defines an auto crash as any collision resulting in a property damage claim.

To view the complete 2006 Allstate America's Best Drivers Report and to see the full rankings, log on at www.Allstate.com.

Now celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of Allstate Insurance Company, The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,100 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R). Encompass(SM) and Deerbrook(R) Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.