Texas Drivers "Running on Empty Out-of-Gas" Emergency Calls Jump 53 Percent

IRVING, Texas - June 19, 2008: The number of Texans running out of gas on the highway skyrocketed 53 percent in the first five months of 2008 compared to the same time last year, according to the Allstate Motor Club. From January through May of 2008, Texans called the Motor Club for fuel delivery 506 times. Allstate Motor Club set a Texas record in May with 140 out-of-gas calls across the state.

"We can't directly correlate this rise in the number of people running out of gas to the rise in prices at the pump, but we know that consumers are trying hard to stretch their dollar and sometimes that means stretching fuel into fumes," said Evelyn Murphy, an Allstate Exclusive Agent in Austin. "Drivers should remember running out of gas on the highway can be a lot more than an inconvenience, it can be hazardous."

Murphy says the average wait time for a can of gas can be 20 or 30 minutes, but more troublesome than the hassle is the danger of being stuck on the road. According to the roadside assistance experts at Allstate Motor Club, running out of gas increases the risk of much more serious accidents for the driver with an empty tank and other motorists who suddenly have to maneuver around a disabled vehicle.

React Safely ...

If you find yourself out of gas, Allstate Motor Club recommends remembering your safety first.

1. If you feel your car running out of gas, get off the road. Pulling your car to the curb will help you, your passengers and your vehicle from becoming traffic hazards.

2. If you run out of gas in traffic, stay in your vehicle until you are absolutely certain it is safe to get out of the vehicle. Push your vehicle to the side of the road only after you are clear of other cars and you are sure it is safe.

3. Call for help after you and your passengers are in a secure location. If you do not have a motor club membership, many states and municipalities have emergency roadside assistance services that may help get you and your car out of harms-way.

Conserve Safely ...

Allstate has three tips for drivers that will help save gas and also make you a safer driver.

1. Slow down. Fuel economy generally drops at higher rates of speed.

2. Keep tires properly inflated. Properly inflated tires can improve the handling of your vehicle as well as dramatically improve gas mileage.

3. Maintain consistent speed. The more consistent your speed on the roadway, the better your gas mileage will become and the safer you'll be while sharing the highway with other motorists.

Established in 1961, the Allstate Motor Club was the first truly national motor club offering superior roadside benefits. The Allstate Corporation 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 14,900 exclusive agencies and financial representatives 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(R) 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.