Progressive Donates $50,000 to Minnesota's Safe & Sober Campaign
11 December 1998
Progressive Donates $50,000 to Minnesota's Safe & Sober Campaign MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 10 -- Progressive , one of the
state's largest auto insurers, today announced that it is donating $50,000 to
the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's "Safe & Sober" campaign to
encourage safe driving on Minnesota's roads and highways. The contribution
will be used to fund public service announcements aimed at reducing alcohol
and drug-related traffic fatalities and other programs to encourage traffic
safety.
The Safe & Sober campaign is a national and state-wide traffic enforcement
and public education campaign aimed at decreasing the incidence of impaired
driving and increasing seatbelt usage. Through state-wide public service
announcements sponsored by Progressive, Minnesota motorists will be reminded
of the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
"Despite the potential consequences, too many people still risk their
lives and the lives of others by driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs,"
said John Sauerland, Progressive's general manager for Minnesota. "It is
especially important during the holiday season to call attention to the
dangers of driving impaired and to encourage people to drive safe and sober.
That's why Progressive is proud to support the Minnesota Safe & Sober campaign
to reduce senseless tragedies on our highways."
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety pays for additional traffic
enforcement shifts during four waves, or key travel periods, of the year for
nearly 100 Minnesota sheriff and police departments, and the Minnesota State
Patrol. Each of the four waves has an educational focus: impaired driving,
youth, occupant protection (safety belts and child safety seats), and
speed/aggressive driving. During each period, law enforcement officers work
overtime shifts dedicated to enforcing traffic laws.
Prior to and after each traffic wave, Safe & Sober law enforcement
agencies launch traffic safety awareness campaigns in their communities and
alert motorists of their overtime traffic safety efforts, so drivers are aware
of the risks if they do not obey traffic laws. From December 3 through New
Year's Day, law enforcement officials will be focusing on reducing the number
of impaired drivers on the road. In 1997, 30 percent of Minnesota's traffic
fatalities were alcohol related.
"There is no reason why any person in Minnesota, or anywhere, should be
driving while impaired," said Sauerland. "Progressive and the Safe & Sober
campaign are committed to reminding motorists that drinking and driving do not
mix."
Progressive's donation to the Safe & Sober campaign is one of several
contributions the company has made this year to support the safety and
well-being of Minnesotans.
The company is also contributing $1,000 to the Minneapolis Police
Department "Bait Vehicle" program to reduce the number of auto thefts
throughout the city, on behalf of November Progressive Auto Insurance NFL
Rookie of the Month Randy Moss.
In Minnesota, Progressive meets the auto insurance needs of policyholders
through seven offices and approximately 100 employees and 22 Immediate
Response Vehicles carrying claims representatives who deliver Progressive's
Immediate Response(R) claims service throughout the state. Throughout the U.S.
and in Canada, Progressive provides consumers with competitively priced
automobile insurance and 24-hour services delivered through the phone,
Internet, and more than 30,000 Independent Agents throughout the country,
including 1,300 in Minnesota, making it the nation's largest writer of auto
insurance through Independent Agents. Progressive companies writing auto
insurance consistently receive the highest ratings available from A.M. Best,
the independent company that rates the financial conditions of insurance
companies. Progressive is a "Proud Sponsor of the NFL," and the title sponsor
of the Super Bowl Halftime Show at Super Bowls XXXIII and XXXIV. The
Progressive Corporation's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange
. More information about the company can be found on the World Wide
Web at progressive.com.
