CHP and 21st Century Insurance Mark National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week with a Child Safety Milestone.

Business/Lifestyle/Metro Editors

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2003

Statewide Child Seat Safety Program Makes Latest Stop

in Sacramento on Saturday

This Saturday in Sacramento, a California Highway Patrol officer will climb inside a vehicle and inspect and install a car seat. The significance? This will be the 1,000th time he'll do so as part of a unique partnership between the CHP and 21st Century Insurance (NYSE:TW). Since last summer, the CHP and 21st have conducted child safety seat fairs in many of California's underserved communities, bringing CHP inspectors and replacement car seats to communities and families that desperately need them.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated February 9-15, 2003 as National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week. To bring this safety message to life, the California Highway Patrol and 21st Century Insurance will conduct its latest child seat safety fair in Sacramento on Saturday, February 15th from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Target store on Madison Avenue, just off I-80. Actor/icon Erik Estrada will be on hand to help spread the word about child seat safety to fair participants and the community-at-large.

According to just released figures from NHTSA, proper child safety seat usage remains an alarming problem. For example:

-- Too many children continue to ride in the front seat

-- 15% of infants are riding in the front seat, despite California law and NHTSA recommendations to the contrary

-- Nearly 33% of children ages 4-7 are riding in the front seat.

-- Although all infants should ride in rear-facing safety seats, a full 66% of infants were found riding in front-facing seats.

-- Only 83% of 4-7 year olds are restrained.

-- Motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of death for children ages 4-14.

"We need to continue educating Californians about the importance of proper safety seat usage," stated CHP Commissioner D.O. "Spike" Helmick. "A child safety seat, properly installed, can make the difference between a safe, healthy child and one that's injured or killed," added Helmick.

To help promote compliance with California law, which requires that a child passenger restraint (child safety seat or booster seat) be used on all children until they are at least 6 years old or 60 pounds, CHP and 21st Century have joined forces to educate Californian parents and caregivers through a series of community events, bilingual safety guides, earned media activities and an innovative advertising campaign.

At the community events, the CHP provides several specially trained officers to inspect and, if necessary, replace and install a new car seat donated by 21st Century. These safety fairs, which began last year, have been expanded to 12 events in 2003 due to the overwhelming response from the community. At this Saturday's event in Sacramento, CHP and 21st Century will reach an important milestone by inspecting its 1,000th vehicle in less than 12 months. Moreover, 21st Century has donated over 500 seats at community events thus far and will give away hundreds more in the months ahead.

In addition to holding events in underserved communities, CHP and 21st Century have created a Child Safety Seat Parent's 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 Century by visiting www.21st.com or calling 1-800-211-SAVE. Moreover, the CHP and 21st are teaming up on public service announcements and a statewide billboard campaign promoting child seat safety.

"At 21st Century Insurance, our number one priority is to ensure the safety of all motorists and passengers on the road," said Joyce Prager, Community Relations Director. "As a California-based company, we are committed to helping our fellow Californians obtain proper car seats and life-saving advice on how to protect their young children while driving."

Actor/icon Erik Estrada is serving as a celebrity spokesperson for this important cause. Estrada, best known for his role as CHP Officer Frank Poncherello, stated, "It is a documented fact that child safety seats save lives. As a concerned parent of a young child, I urge every parent to get the right car seats for their children! As well, always make sure child safety seats are installed safely and correctly."

For families unable to attend the safety fairs, each of the CHP's 99 area offices has designated one day a week when the public can schedule an appointment to have child safety seats inspected and obtain assistance with proper seat installation. A list of office locations and telephone numbers is available in the telephone directory or on the CHP web site at www.chp.ca.gov.

Founded in 1958, 21st Century Insurance Group provides personal automobile insurance in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Customers receive full service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from the company's licensed agents at 1-800-211-SAVE and from its website, www.21st.com. 21st Century is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best and A+ by Standard & Poor's.

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.