Are you guilty of DWD? 

72 percent of Americans are, according to Nationwide's 2008 DWD Study

 

What is DWD? 

Driving While Distracted. Driving while eating, talking on the cell phone, text messaging, reading, turning around and talking to passengers, fiddling with the radio, daydreaming, or any activity that takes your hands off the wheel, eyes off the road and mind off the car.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 80 percent of accidents are caused by distracted drivers. Nationwide recognizes the dangers posed by distracted driving. That’s why we’re committed to reducing DWD – Driving While Distracted – through heightened public awareness, continued targeted research, and partnering with the National Safety Council and NASCAR.

In our first annual 2007 DWD study, Nationwide established that Americans drive while distracted at a startling rate.

Our 2008 DWD study found that this DWD trend is continuing at alarming rates – 4 out of 5 drivers have been guilty of and witnesses to DWD. We also dug deeper to find out exactly why DWD is so prevalent. DWD is not generation or gender specific. Whether they’ve had their license for four months or four decades, when it comes to putting the brakes on DWD, individuals are in the driver’s seat.

“The bottom line is, if you do it in the kitchen, bathroom or office, you shouldn’t be doing it while driving.”- Bill Windsor, Nationwide Associate Vice President of Safety

With more tech-savvy young people getting their learning permits each year, distracted driving is poised to worsen if not addressed, according to Bill Windsor, Nationwide’s associate vice president of Safety. Read Bill's position paper on distracted driving.