No word on any studies that rate the accuracy of press releases based on the time of birth.
The Allstate Corporation set off a furor last week when it issued a press release that compared Zodiac sign accident rates among drivers.
In it the auto insurance giant said that during the past year, Virgos were “nearly 700% more likely to be in a car accident when compared to the determined and aware Scorpio accident rates, the best drivers in the study.” Scorpios were only involved in 1.5% of all accidents in 2010.
“Generally, the signs with the fewest number of reported accidents were those associated with traits like ‘compassion, graciousness,’ and ‘resourcefulness’ where those with more accidents tended to be more ‘uncompromising,’ ‘arrogant’ and ‘impatient,” Allstate said.
I’m sure this was news to state insurance regulators, not noted for senses of humor, to say nothing of angry customers who erupted on the web. So yesterday Allstate backed down.
“Astrological signs have absolutely no role in how we base coverage and set rates. Rating by astrology would not be actuarially sound, Allstate said in an unusual Saturday statement.
“We realize that our hard working customers view their insurance expense very seriously. So do we.”
“We deeply apologize for any confusion this may have caused,” Allstate concluded.
No word on any studies that rate the accuracy of press releases based on the time of birth.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
I don’t know about Zodiac signs but I do know the problem here was that the story should have been released on April 1. It was just a few months premature.