Driving in the U.S. is becoming less predictable, especially as more autonomous vehicles take to the roads. This has led commercial drivers to worry more about accidents, injury and the risk to their future employment, according to Nationwide.
Almost nine in 10 motorists, including consumers and commercial drivers, say phone use while driving has increased in the past year. Forty percent say they experience stress while driving and more than two-thirds say they frequently witness road rage,
Nationwide commissioned Edelman Data & Intelligence to conduct an online survey of 1,005 consumers, 400 parents of teen drivers and 400 commercial drivers in January.
"Many describe a road environment with more distractions, more tension and less trust in the people around them," Mark McGhiey, commercial risk management leader at Nationwide, said in a statement. "These conditions are particularly concerning for company drivers as many worry about the threat of accidents, injuries and the ripple effects on future employment opportunities."
Commercial drivers report an increase in risky driving behaviors compared to results from the 2025 Driving Behaviors study. There was a 10-point rise in distraction at 77% and recklessness with 73% and a 15-point increase, 74%, in unsafe driving around commercial vehicles, according to the results.
Additionally, six in 10 commercial drivers said they are comfortable with the idea of fully
"While we can't control every driver around us, we can control how we drive," Chris Lee, vice president of personal lines auto at Nationwide, said in a statement. "Reducing distractions, staying alert, and giving other vehicles more space are simple actions that can make a real difference."
