Good Hands to the Rescue for College Students Traveling Back to School

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Education projects 20.4 million1 students will attend a college or university this fall. Whether your campus is across the county or 45 miles from home, you need to have a plan in place to protect yourself if you're driving your car to college. Allstate is asking all college students to download a free app called the Good Hands RescueSM app just in case the unthinkable happens and you break down while on the road.

"The chance of running into problems while on the road makes it imperative students know what to do and who to contact," said Pam Dufour, president, Allstate Roadside Services. "We know how tech savvy students are, so we're making it easy to get roadside help if you need it. All you have to do is download our free Good Hands RescueSM app, so you can get help if you find yourself with a flat tire, out of gas or stuck on the side of the road."

A survey commissioned by Allstate Roadside Services found drivers ages 18-29 were the most likely group to experience a disabled vehicle while on the road. Seventy-three percent of young drivers admitted they became stranded or had to pull off the highway. Among the most common reasons for their car woes were a flat tire (74 percent), a dead battery (70 percent), an accident (62 percent), a break down (54 percent) and a lockout (53 percent). Many of the drivers surveyed experienced more than one of these problems. 

The Good Hands RescueSM mobile app makes it easier for stranded drivers to request roadside assistance from anywhere in America through their smartphones. You don't have to be an Allstate customer to use it and you pay only when services are used. Once service is requested and location is determined, a cost is shared along with an estimated time of arrival. If you accept the service, a network provider is dispatched and you can use your smartphone to track the provider's en route status. Additionally, you can opt to have a text sent to family or friends to keep them updated on the rescue.

Drivers can download the Good Hands RescueSM app for free from Apple or Google Play, or visit Allstate's mobile website.

There are also ways to stay safe and prepared before getting on the road. Allstate Roadside Services offers the following tips:

• Make sure your car is road-ready. Before traveling to or from campus, have a mechanic give your vehicle the once-over, including preventive maintenance such as an oil change, tire check, new wipers or filter replacement.
• When packing your stuff to head back to school, 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.
• Ensure you know the top reasons for roadside assistance and who to contact for help. Keep your phone fully charged and don't forget to download the Good Hands RescueSM app to your smartphone before you leave. 

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: 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. Now celebrating its 85th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. In 2015, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities.

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.

1 U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), "Fall Enrollment Survey," and Enrollment in Degree-Granting Institutions Model, http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/2008060.pdf.

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SOURCE The Allstate Corporation