Nationwide has teamed up with Dale Earnhardt Jr. on a campaign aimed at reducing distracted driving among teens by rewarding safer habits.
Just in time for Teen Driving Awareness Month, the effort highlights Nationwide’s Focused Driving Rewards program, which uses an app to encourage drivers to avoid toying with their phones by offering points that can be redeemed for gift cards.
Nationwide cited survey data showing distracted driving is a top concern for parents of teen drivers, with only about four in 10 rating their teen’s driving as very good or excellent. More than 80% of parents said they would enroll their teen in a program that rewards safe driving behavior.
Nationwide said the Focused Driving Rewards app measures phone-handling events such as tapping, handheld calls or phone motion, rather than overall driving behavior, making it easier for drivers to understand and improve. Since launching in more than 40 states last year, participants reduced phone distraction by an average of nearly 40%, the company said.
The program is open to all drivers, not just Nationwide policyholders, and can pay out up to $60 in rewards every six months.