Good Hands to the Rescue for Families Preparing for Spring and Summer Road Trips

NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- It's that time of year when families load up the car, fill up the gas tank and gear up for springtime or summertime road trips. Whether you have your sights set on traveling to one of the National Parks or you plan to cruise to the coast to sit on the beach, Allstate is reminding drivers of a few simple precautions to help make their road travel safer.

Having a disabled or undrivable vehicle is never an enjoyable experience, yet a survey commissioned by Allstate Roadside Services found almost every driver in America has been in this situation. The majority (74 percent) had a flat tire. Seventy percent of drivers had a dead battery. Sixty-two percent of Americans had an accident. About 54 percent of people polled couldn't get their car to start and 36 percent ran out of gas. Many of the drivers surveyed experienced more than one of these problems. 

"The likelihood of running into problems while you're on the road makes it imperative you know what to do and who to contact if the unexpected happens," said Pam Dufour, president, Allstate Roadside Services. "No one wants to experience a flat tire or break down any time of the year. But you certainly don't want vehicle troubles to leave you stranded on the side of the road when you have your kids in the backseat. It's why Allstate is recommending everyone download our free Good Hands Rescue^SM app before they begin their vacation or whenever they plan to be on the road."

If your car breaks down hundreds of miles from home, do you know how to get help? Allstate's free Good Hands Rescue^SM app takes away the guesswork and helps get a tow truck or other help to you quickly and easily. You don't have to be an Allstate customer to use the app, and you pay only after your service is complete. You also can use your smartphone to track the provider's en route status. Information like that can be invaluable when it comes to keeping children entertained or in good spirits until help arrives. Parents can download the Good Hands Rescue^SM app for free from Apple or Google Play, or visit Allstate's mobile website.

Allstate Roadside Services also offers the following tips before you leave for that family vacation:

• Make sure your car is road-ready. Before setting out on your trip, have a mechanic give your vehicle the once-over, including preventive maintenance such as an oil change, tire check, new wipers or filter replacement.
• Be sure to pack an emergency car kit. A well-equipped kit can fit in the trunk and might include a flashlight, hand sanitizer, water and energy bars.
• Keep your phone fully charged so you can make contact and get the roadside assistance you need.

Allstate Roadside Services administers roadside assistance through Allstate Motor Club. Each year, Allstate responds to about five million requests for roadside assistance. Approximately 40 million vehicles are covered through Allstate Roadside Services.

The Allstate Corporation ALL is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In 2015, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 230,000 hours of service across the country.

Survey results are based on a national, online survey of adults conducted July 1-6, 2015 on behalf of Allstate by FTI Consulting. This survey focused on the respondent's experiences and needs during times when roadside assistance is necessary. The online survey was conducted among a sample of 1,000 adults age 18 and older living across the United States.

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SOURCE The Allstate Corporation