Strengthen safe driving habits this Rural Road Safety Week

You drive them every day. So it’s natural to know the rural roads around your farm or ranch like the back of your hand. But familiarity isn't the same as safety.

Every time you get behind the wheel, safety matters. That's especially true on rural roads. Rural Road Safety Week, from July 13 – July 17, 2026, is a timely reminder of our shared responsibility to drive carefully and look out for one another. Use this week to recommit to safe driving habits and make sure 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 highlighting some of the ways you can help keep your rural roads safe.

Understanding and preventing rural road dangers

There’s a common misconception about rural roads. Most assume they’re safer than city streets. While they see less traffic, rural roads often carry 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

Rural areas often mean longer emergency response times than in urban areas. And that can be the difference between life and death. Then layer on large, slow-moving farm equipment on narrow roads, the risk of serious injury or fatal crashes climbs dramatically.

Addressing distracted driving and enhancing readiness

Distracted driving is one of the most common, dangerous and preventable threats on our roads. Data in Nationwide’s 2026 Driving Behaviors Survey show the urgent need for stronger hands-free laws around the country. Such laws help 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 sharply cut the likelihood of severe collisions.

Drive the 5 to build safe driving habits

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

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

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

Let’s team up to make our rural roads safer

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 help keep your family, operation and community safe on the road, all year round.