Build safe driving habits this Rural Road Safety Week

You may know the rural roads around your farm or ranch like the back of your hand. But don’t mistake that familiarity for safety.

Every time you get behind the wheel, safety matters — especially on rural roads. Rural Road Safety Week, taking place this year from July 14 to 18, is a timely reminder of our shared responsibility to drive safely and look out for one another. Use this week to recommit to safe driving habits and ensure that everyone who leaves the farm in the morning returns home safe and healthy at the end of the day.

This Rural Road Safety Week, Nationwide is proud to join the National Center for Rural Road Safety in shining a spotlight on some of the ways you can help keep your rural roads safe.

Understanding and preventing rural road dangers

There’s a big misconception about rural roads. Most think they’re inherently safer than their urban counterparts. Though they see less traffic, rural roads often present a greater risk and higher fatality rates. Several factors contribute to this increased danger including:

• Higher speeds
• Unpredictable and often unmarked turns
• Limited visibility due to terrain or overgrown vegetation
• The absence of paved shoulders

In rural areas, emergency response times are often longer than in urban areas. And that delay can mean the difference between life and death. When you add in large, slow-moving farm equipment on narrow roads, the risk of serious injury or fatal crashes increases dramatically.

Addressing distracted driving and enhancing readiness

Distracted driving remains one of the biggest, most dangerous and preventable threats on our roads. Nationwide’s 2024 Driving Behaviors Survey revealed trends that show the urgent need for stronger hands-free laws around the country. Advocating for and adhering to these laws helps create safer environments for everyone. That includes rural areas where large farm machinery frequently shares the road with other vehicles. Eliminating phone use and other distractions while driving can drastically reduce the likelihood of severe collisions.

Drive the 5 to build safe driving habits

The right habits can make all the difference in minimizing risk, especially on rural roads. Drive the 5 is a safety program focused on five key principles that promote safer driving and vehicle readiness, supporting safe driving behaviors, such as:

• Ensuring full attention to the road
• Maintaining a safe following distance
• Adjusting to conditions, not just posted speed limits
• Avoiding all distractions
• Adapting to weather, road and traffic conditions

Integrating these principles into daily driving routines provides a continuous layer of prevention that can help navigate the unique challenges of rural roads.

Let’s make our rural roads safer together

Rural Road Safety Week is your annual reminder to go the extra mile for safety. Talk with your Nationwide Farm Certified agent to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your family, your operation and your community safe on the road, all year round.