Frisco One of 14 Communities Countrywide Named "Safe and Secure"

FRISCO, Texas, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Frisco, Texas is being recognized as one of 14 Allstate Safe and Secure Communities across the country. Allstate has recognized Frisco because it has been identified as one of the fastest growing communities in the country and is navigating the corresponding traffic planning issues that come with rapid growth. Frisco ISD has also been identified as one of the country's fastest growing school districts.

"We are excited to be named an Allstate Safe and Secure Community. We look forward to partnering with Allstate on safe driving events and teen driving education that will create awareness for Frisco residents," said Sgt. Brad Merritt, Frisco Police Public Information Officer.

Allstate says it will partner with Frisco community leaders over the next year to help facilitate programs promoting safe and secure behaviors amongst members of the community and surrounding area. In addition, the Frisco Police Department is receiving a $50,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation to help fund teen driving education and community focused programming.

"Allstate has a long-standing commitment to Texas teens," said Frisco Allstate Exclusive Agent Jeff Baird. "As Frisco grows, so does the school district. There are few better places in the country where Allstate can make such a powerful investment in the safety of teen drivers."

The partnership kicked off Thursday, May 16 at Stonebriar Mall in Frisco, with a program featuring Allstate's Reality Rides^SM. Reality Rides is a simulator that demonstrates the dangers of distracted driving – putting participants behind the wheel of a real car virtually simulating the dangers of distracted driving. 

Reality Rides
Reality Rides consists of a driving simulator that utilizes a real - but stationary - vehicle equipped with virtual reality technology, including a headset that displays an animated environment and reacts to the driver's motions. Using the vehicle's steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, the driver is tasked with driving while also attempting to text and talk on the phone.  

These simulations demonstrate the potential consequences distracted drivers could face while on the road. To add impact to the simulations, Frisco participants are given traffic "tickets" that reveal potential infractions a driver could receive if the experience happened in real life. Participants will also have the opportunity to take the Allstate X the TXT™ pledge that promises to not text and drive.

Allstate is reaching out to families in Frisco because more than 3,000 deaths from crashes with a distracted driver occur each year:

• Studies have shown drivers who text are 23 times more likely to crash, and texting while driving is the equivalent to driving impaired after drinking four beers.
• Car crashes are the number one cause of death for everyone in the U.S. ages 1-34, with teens crashing four times more often than any other age group.
• In Texas, Allstate is advocating for stronger teen driving laws, referred to as Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL). To reach the provisions that would bring Texas' up to recommended standards, Allstate proposes
  • Require age 16 for entry into the learner's permit stage
  • Extend all restrictions on teen drivers through age 17
  • Cell phone restrictions.
• Recent research from The Allstate Foundation's License to Save report found that comprehensive GDL laws in Texas could save an estimated 211 lives and $1.44 billion annually.

To track the Allstate Reality Rides tour and see photos of Frisco participants, visit facebook.com/xthetxt. While there, check out information and resources, engage in the conversation and invite family and friends to take action in support of stronger teen driving laws.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate^®, and are widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." As part of Allstate's commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $29 million in 2012 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.

SOURCE Allstate

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