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Share The importance of distracted driving awareness July 1, 2026 Summer brings road trips, holiday travel and busier roads, creating more chances for distraction behind the wheel. While distracted driving is a year-round risk, heavier traffic, longer drives, unfamiliar routes and added in-car activity can make staying focused even more important during the summer months. This article highlights the dangers of distracted driving and ways you can help your customers stay safe on the road. Pulse-on-Protection Driving Behaviors Infographic Dangers of distracted driving A recent Nationwide survey finds that driving is becoming less predictable and less trusted. Distraction, aggression and recklessness are rising, making everyday driving more stressful and harder to anticipate. Additionally, respondents agreed that: Nearly 9 in 10 drivers say phone use behind the wheel has increased 7 in 10 frequently witness road rage 40% say driving is stressful While most drivers rate their own driving highly, many say the behavior from others on the road is getting worse. This creates an environment where drivers understand the dangers of the road but may not grasp how their behaviors contribute to distracted driving. According to the most recent data from the NHTSA, 3,208 people were killed because of distracted driving in 2024. Further, 315,167 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers.1 Insurance professionals have the opportunity to engage with their customers, educating them on the dangers of distracted driving and how emerging safety technologies and laws can impact them. Cellphone use and distracted driving behaviors Several behaviors lead to distracted driving, chief among them being cellphone use. Cellphone usage tends to fall under every category of distracted driving, as device use requires:2 Significant attention to operate, such as when dialing a phone number or responding to a text message (visual distractions) The use of a hand to operate (manual distractions) Users to talk and listen (cognitive distractions) Unlike other distractions (e.g., eating) that might be brief, cellphone use can be sustained over longer periods, increasing the risk of an incident. Further, the habitual nature of checking messages, social media and emails can lead to automatic behaviors that are hard to suppress, even when driving. Notably, cellphone use while driving greatly increases the risk of a serious crash. One September 2025 study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Cambridge Mobile Telematics found that drivers who frequently use their phones are 240% more likely to be involved in a crash.3 Because of these factors, cellphones are often a focus of campaigns and technological enhancements designed to help reduce distracted driving and enhance road safety. Using emerging distracted driving technology Whether it’s talking on a phone, glancing at a text message or navigating a map, most drivers are driving while distracted at some point in their route. In fact, drivers take their eyes off the road an average of 10 times a day, traveling about three football fields cumulatively every time they are distracted by their phones.3 Fortunately, there is a free and easy-to-implement solution in the form of built-in driving modes on cellphones. Typically enabled via a phone’s settings, driving modes essentially put a user’s phone on “do not disturb” mode, silencing incoming phone calls, texts and notifications. Not only is this method of reducing driving distractions simple to use, but it’s also free. In addition to using built-in driving modes on cellphones, Nationwide’s SmartRide® mobile app, which rewards safe driving behavior with a discount of up to 40% on auto insurance, also has a feature that focuses on phone distractions to help drivers become more aware of their behavior and provides tips to avoid distractions. Beyond these methods, crash-avoidance technology integrated into vehicles may help reduce the risks associated with distracted driving in certain instances. For example, audible warning systems can alert drivers of potential collision risks (e.g., the sensors detect a hazard as the driver changes lanes). In some cases, these systems can intervene if the driver doesn’t respond quickly enough to the warning, potentially preventing a crash altogether. Certain vehicles are also outfitted with camera-based driver monitoring tools that notify drivers if they’ve taken their eyes off the road for a prolonged period of time, which could help reduce distractions related to driver fatigue.4 Distracted driving laws and governmental practices To help combat distracted driving, most states prohibit texting while driving, and many have enacted broader bans on hand-held device use. While the specifics vary, these laws generally allow for limited hands-free use of cellphones, such as voice commands or single-touch activation. An increasing number of states have expanded these restrictions to cover nearly all manual device interaction while driving, rather than focusing solely on texting. Although this legislation plays an important role in helping improve road safety, it is not a cure-all—reducing distracted driving also requires ongoing education. Help clients with these safety tips to avoid distracted driving Even the most experienced drivers can become distracted on the road. As a result, it’s crucial for drivers of all ages and experience levels to prioritize identifying and minimizing potentially harmful driving behaviors. The following are some strategies for drivers to consider: Learn about distracted driving and associated risks. Never text or use a cellphone while driving. Where possible, drivers should place their phones out of reach to reduce the temptation to check messages or notifications. Plan ahead to reduce distractions on the road. Know your route or preload GPS. Be sure to make any necessary texts, emails and calls before you leave. Avoid eating, reaching for items and performing other potentially distracting activities on the road. Take a break from driving if you find your focus slipping. Leverage cellphone applications that recognize when users are driving and automatically send a preset safety message when a text is received. Lead by example and encourage others to avoid distractions while driving, educating them about the dangers of distracted driving. Drivers who glance away from the road for any reason, even for a second, risk their safety and that of others. Nationwide solutions Distracted driving is a significant concern for all motorists, threatening road safety and creating challenges across the auto insurance industry. Especially in the summer months, it is a great reminder for motorists to take this risk seriously and do what they can to reduce potential distractions behind the wheel. Nationwide also offers telematics solutions and a driving rewards program that can help motorists become more aware of their driving behaviors behind the wheel and promote safe driving practices. SmartRide® is a program that leverages a mobile app to track drivers’ on-road habits and offers safe-driving discounts on auto insurance and personalized experiences that help them drive safely. Focused Driving Rewards® is a program for customers and non-customers that allows participants to earn rewards for avoiding phone distractions over time. Additionally, insurance agents can help promote distracted driving prevention by spreading the word on social media, sharing resources in client email communications, presenting to teen motorists at local schools, and actively supporting related legislation in their respective states. Nationwide’s distracted driving resource center offers additional information and tools to help you share this important message with your customers. Check out additional risk prevention resources The insights provided in this article underscore the importance of combating distracted driving. Given the rise in mobile device use and other distractions, it’s more important than ever for drivers to adopt safe driving practices and for communities to support initiatives to minimize distractions. Insurance agents—along with organizations like Nationwide—play a pivotal role in these efforts by offering resources, technology solutions like SmartRide® and educational campaigns to promote awareness and help change driver behavior. By working together, we can all make a difference in reducing distracted driving incidents. For more information on distracted driving, check out our other resources: Making Roadways Safer Agency Forward by Casey Kempton – Driving toward safer roads: Stronger legislation needed Nationwide Distracted Driving Resource Center Focused Driving Rewards – Nationwide Citations/Disclaimer: 1 https://www.cdc.gov/distracted-driving/about/index.html 2 https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/dangers-texting-while-driving 3 https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving 4 https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/distracted-driving#technology-to-combat-distraction Share
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