Business Editors/Insurance Writers

CHEVY CHASE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 22, 2008--Are you ready for your teen to start driving at age 16, or even earlier?

GEICO (www.geico.com) will join Dr. Anne McCartt, senior vice president of research for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and Delegate Bill Bronrott, District 16, Montgomery County, to lead a conversation with GEICO parents on Oct. 23 at company headquarters in Chevy Chase, Md.

GEICO organized the event to recognize National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 19-25).

New findings from IIHS suggest that licensing teens at a later age could substantially reduce crashes involving teen drivers. In the U.S., only New Jersey postpones licensure until age 17, and fatal crash rates in New Jersey were found to be considerably lower when compared to Connecticut where 16-year-olds could get licenses.

The GEICO discussion will also explore the effects of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws that in general have lowered crash rates in states where the GDL system is active.

For more information on teen safe driving, visit GEICO’s Auto Safety Library (http://www.geico.com/information/safety/auto/safety-library/).

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for nearly 8.5 million policyholders and insures more than 14.4 million vehicles.

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV's), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available.

As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to http://www.geico.com.

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