Distraction and anxiety accelerate issues on roadways

Despite more than a decade of national campaigns and legislation aimed at curbing distracted driving, new research from Nationwide reveals that most drivers believe distractions behind the wheel are only getting worse – with everyday motorists and fleet drivers both feeling the impact of increasingly dangerous roads. The findings paint a clear picture: driver overconfidence is leading to risky behavior.

Nationwide’s April 2025 survey, which polled both personal drivers and company drivers, offers insurers, agents and fleet managers a full-spectrum view of roadway behavior in 2025.

Driving feels more dangerous today, but people feel their own cell phone use is acceptable
Compared to last year, roughly 9 in 10 consumers feel other motorists are using their phones more behind the wheel (92%), driving faster (92%), more aggressive (92%) and more reckless (88%).

Given these worries, only 15% of consumers rate other motorists around them as “very good” or “excellent” drivers, but 8 in 10 rate their own driving highly.

However, these beliefs fly in the face of their own risky behaviors on the roads:

• 20% admit to texting while driving
• 15% use social media
• 13% are watching videos
• 11% are reading or writing emails

Phones aren’t the only devices stealing drivers’ attention on the roads.

• Nearly half (47%, a 6-point increase from 2024) also express concerns that built-in touchscreens and displays designed for navigation, communication and entertainment contribute to driver distraction.

“Far too many people believe they’re immune to distraction or that a ‘quick check’ won’t hurt,” says Casey Kempton, Nationwide’s president of Personal Lines. “Our latest survey data clearly reveals that these split-second decisions can have serious consequences. Nationwide is committed to driver safety and, no matter the use, a phone in the hand while driving is a dangerous distraction.” 

Explore the full personal lines findings here.

As risks mount, 7 in 10 company drivers worry about death, injury or lawsuits on work routes
The research also found that while company drivers routinely dodge distracted motorists on their work routes, many also confess to risky behaviors behind the wheel that could lead to dangerous and costly accidents. As roads become more dangerous, 70% of company drivers say they worry about being killed or hurt in a collision, or being held liable for the damages.

In line with consumers, 89% of company drivers rate their own driving as good or excellent, but less than 60% say the same of other drivers.

While 75% of company drivers believe that the use of phones by other motorists has increased over the past year, at least 1 in 5 company drivers (21%) also admit to frequent distractions while driving for work. These distractions mainly include adjusting their GPS systems, using cell phones (calls, texts and social media), eating or drinking, and fiddling with their radio or music.  

Staffing shortages may also be fueling riskier behaviors. Four in 10 drivers (44%, a 5-point increase from 2024) say their employer is struggling to hire or retain qualified drivers, a challenge that’s leading to:

• Increased workloads (72%, +11 points)
• Longer driving hours (71%, +13 points)
• Difficulty meeting deadlines (57%, +10 points)
• Decreased training quality (54%, +15 points)
• Reduced focus on safety (49%, +15 points)

These added pressures are showing up behind the wheel as 53% regularly take work phone calls and roughly a quarter are reading/responding to work text messages (28%) or emails (24%) while driving. Notably, this number clashes with the 1 in 5 company drivers who admit to feeling distracted while driving, suggesting that many respondents participate in these risky behaviors but may not actually perceive them as leading to distractions – a significant and dangerous perception gap. Even more alarming, 41% of drivers believe staffing shortages have negatively impacted their own driving, a 20-point increase from 2024.

“Company drivers are overwhelmed, distracted and in many cases, worried. When nearly half say staffing shortages are affecting their driving, and 70% fear serious consequences from a crash, it’s a clear signal that fleet drivers are under stress,” said Mark McGhiey, Risk Management and Client Services leader at Nationwide. “While comprehensive fleet safety programs are critical for all employers with drivers, this isn’t just about better planning or stricter rules; it’s about building a culture of safety that supports drivers through robust training, smarter tools, and a commitment to their wellbeing every time they start the engine.”

Access the full commercial driver findings here.

Modern problems are calling for smarter solutions
Both employers and insurers are turning to innovative tools to help drivers stay focused and safe. Nationwide’s research shows that technology like dash cams, telematics and hands-free policies are gaining significant traction and reshaping how drivers and companies manage risk.

On the commercial side, fleet operators are making meaningful strides with tools like dash cams, hands-free policies and ongoing driver monitoring.

• Dash cam usage among company drivers has jumped 29 points year-over-year, now installed in 84% of work vehicles.
• Nearly two-thirds of drivers say their employer requires them, and more companies are also enforcing hands-free policies (44%) and using continuous motor vehicle record monitoring (71%) to proactively address risk. 

For personal drivers, although only 20% currently use dash cams, drivers overwhelmingly agree the right tools can make a measurable difference.

• Nationwide has launched Focused Driver Rewards^®* – a first of its kind program that rewards all drivers, regardless of their insurer, for reducing phone use while driving. The mobile app tracks phone handling events and allows participants to earn gift cards – up to $60 every six months – for staying focused on the road. In a recent pilot program, nearly half of participants improved their driving focus, with distractions dropping by an average of 48%.

“The path forward is clear: smarter, data-driven solutions are key to building safer roads and more confident drivers,” said Kempton. “It will take continued collaboration between insurers, employers and everyday drivers to turn these insights into impact.”

^{Methodology:
Nationwide commissioned Edelman Data & Intelligence (DXI) to conduct a nationally representative online survey of 1,000 general consumers and 400 commercial drivers** from March 5-18, 2025.} 

^{*Focused Driving Rewards is not currently available in AK, CA, FL, HI, LA, MA, NY or OK.  Drivers 29 years and younger can earn up to $60 every 6 months. Drivers 30 years and older can earn $2.50 every 2 weeks, up to $30 every 6 months. Focused Driving Rewards is not insurance and does not require the purchase of a policy or a quote. Participation is optional and subject to terms and conditions. Nationwide may terminate the program at any time.}

^{**Commercial driver audience does not include long-haul trucking, tow trucks, app-based delivery drivers (e.g., DoorDash), or large corporate delivery drivers (FedEx, Amazon, UPS, etc.)}