New Nationwide Insurance Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Laws Banning Texting While Driving

Data Suggests Legislation Alone Will Not Solve the Problem
COLUMBUS, Ohio--(Business Wire)--
Nationwide Insurance today released the results of its new On Your Side®survey,
which found that 8 in 10 Americans surveyed this month say they would support
legislation restricting cell phone use while driving. The survey, conducted Aug.
5-9, 2009, by Harris Interactive, reports that 80 percent of Americans favor a
ban on texting while driving, while two thirds favor a ban on cell phone calls,
and more than half say they would support a ban on cell phone use altogether.
Earlier this summer, Nationwide announced its support of the concept of a
national ban on texting while driving to help curb crashes and reduce auto
insurance claims.

The survey results are being announced as hundreds of highway traffic safety
advocates and officials are convening at the Governors Highway Safety
Association`s annual conference in Savannah, Ga., to discuss driving while
distracted (DWD) and other highway safety issues. This meeting is taking place
in advance of a presidential summit on DWD that is scheduled for Sept. 30 and
Oct. 1 in Washington, DC.

"In recent months, the debate about the dangers of DWD has intensified as more
and more states consider taking legislative action," said Bill Windsor,
Nationwide`s Safety Officer. "The survey results confirm that there is strong
public support for banning texting while driving. It also provides insight into
support for additional restrictions policymakers may want to consider."

Public support for DWD legislation

The results of the new survey show there are varying degrees of support for
different types of restrictions. Overall, the survey found that 8 in 10 drivers
support some type of cell phone usage restriction.

* The majority of respondents say they are supportive of laws restricting any
type of cell phone use while driving.
* 80 percent of respondents support a ban on text messaging while driving.
* 80 percent of respondents support a ban on e-mailing while driving.
* Two thirds (67 percent) of respondents say they are supportive of laws
restricting phone calls while driving.
* Of those who support some type of cell phone usage restriction, nearly 3 in 4
believe the law should apply to all drivers, not just specific groups.

Regional differences

In geographic regions where one would expect to find higher cell phone usage and
more multitasking lifestyles, support for a ban was high. The majority of
respondents in the west and northeast regions say they would support a ban on
any type of cell phone use while driving.

Generational differences

While it`s not surprising that older generations are supportive of bans, even
members of Generations X (ages 33-44) and Y (ages 21-32), who are more likely to
use cell phones, are supportive of laws - particularly those banning text
messaging and e-mailing. Three fourths of Generation X and Y respondents favor
these restrictions.

The overwhelming support for legislation may be driven by increased public
recognition of the dangers associated with DWD. In 2008, Nationwide`s DWD survey
revealed that 45 percent of respondents had been hit or nearly hit by another
driver using a cell phone.

Need for education

According to the survey released today, respondents say they are witnessing a
growth in distracted driving behavior on the roads, underscoring the importance
of public education to raise awareness about this dangerous practice.

* More than half of respondents say they see more drivers using cell phones
while driving than they did 12 months ago.
* Nearly three-quarters of respondents say that when they drive, they always or
often see other drivers using cell phones.

The importance of technology

"The new information in this survey also indicates that many drivers are either
in denial about their DWD habits or resistant to changing their behavior," said
Windsor. "This suggests that legislation may not be enough to eliminate
distracted driving and highlights the need for a technological solution that can
prevent cell phone usage in moving vehicles while still allowing people to stay
connected."

Drivers in denial

Nearly half (49 percent) of drivers say a law restricting use of cell phones
would not change their behavior because they don`t currently use cell phones
while driving.

* When you compare this statistic to Nationwide`s 2008 DWD survey, which
revealed that more than 80 percent of drivers admit to talking on their cell
phone while driving, it may be the case that some drivers are either in denial
or too embarrassed to admit their DWD problem.

Resistance to new laws

In the new survey, four out of five respondents (82 percent) who admit to using
their cell phones while driving say their behavior would change if cell phone
usage were restricted by law.

* However, 18 percent of respondents who admit to using their cell phones while
driving say they would continue to do so regardless of a change in law, with
Generation Y most likely to resist the change (26 percent).

Further evidence that a technological solution is needed comes from Nationwide`s
2008 DWD survey. This study found that 43 percent of drivers believe
technological advances that prevent cell phones from working in a moving vehicle
would be the most effective solution to DWD.

Nationwide`s commitment to reducing DWD

Nationwide is committed to helping customers protect what matters most and that
is why the company recently stated its support of the concept of a national ban
on texting while driving. In addition to saving lives, fewer DWD related crashes
could also result in lower insurance costs for consumers.

"DWD impacts all of us in one form or another and Nationwide will continue to
raise public awareness about this important issue," said Windsor. "By working
closely with legislators, public safety officials and other key stakeholders we
can arrive at real-world solutions to this problem and help make the roads a
safer place."

Survey methodology

This surveywas conducted by Harris Interactive via its National QuorumSM
telephone omnibus service. This study was conducted by telephone within the
United States between Aug. 5-9, 2009 among a nationwide cross section of 1,008
adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, and region were weighted
where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the
population. The results for the overall sample have a sampling error of +/-3
percentage points at a 95 percent certainty.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest
diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is
rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of personalized
insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat,
homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services,
annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health
and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered
service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Nationwide
Charley Gillespie, 614-249-5701
gillesc1@nationwide.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009