<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,250,252
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     185,104
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,504,589
<CASH>                                           6,878
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          60,109
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,793,006
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                404,389
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            322,442
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 75,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        48,269
<OTHER-SE>                                     793,490
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,793,006
<PREMIUMS>                                     274,454
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             23,867
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               1,824
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   1,087
<BENEFITS>                                     161,351
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     59,630
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             8,941
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 70,107
<INCOME-TAX>                                    18,693
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             51,414
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    51,414
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.93
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.93
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0