This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nationwide. I purchased my own insurance at normal prices. All opinions are 100% mine.
Nationwide provided me with information regarding its SmartRide program.
Driving is a way of life. But what if you could get rewarded for safe driving?
I’m excited to be teaming up with Nationwide Insurance to share some safe driving tips as well as give you the inside scoop on how you might be able to lower your car insurance through a fabulous program.
SAFE DRIVING TIPS
Wear Your Seatbelt
It’s probably common sense that you would wear your seatbelt. However, when you are in a hurry taking kids from point A to point B, it can be easy to forget. It can also be an easy one to skip if you’re going a short distance. But when it comes to safe driving, making sure everyone is wearing their seatbelts is always a number one.
When I first started driving at 16, I remember not moving the car even an inch until my friends in the back seat had put on their seat belts. I’m still the same way. My car doesn’t move until my boys have their seat belts on!
Pay Attention to the Road
In a world where everything is a distraction, you cannot afford to be distracted while driving. You need to pay attention to what’s going on in front of you, not inside of your vehicle. Leave the phone alone, leave the radio alone and focus on the road.
Admit it… how many times have you seen someone driving and wondered if they’re paying attention, only to see them holding a phone up to their ear. Just as others can get distracted, we can too. We’re not immune!
My kids will sometimes ask for a particular song in the car. If it’s not easily accessible, I tell them they’ll just have to wait. It’s not necessarily what they want to hear, but I remind them that while I’m driving, my number one job is their safety.
Keep Your Hands on the Wheel
Lately, it seems common for individuals to do a lot of other things with their hands while driving. Just like you should avoid distractions, you should also keep your hands on the wheel. Keeping your hands on the wheel not only keeps yourself safe; it keeps those around you safe as well.
As a mom, I understand that kids are dropping things all the time in the backseats. And yes, it is tempting to reach around to pick up that toy… but don’t! I used to tell my kids that as long as I was driving, I couldn’t pick up things in the car. It didn’t take long for them to catch on and not get upset if they dropped something. Toddlers are smart!
Keep Your Eyes Forward
On the same note, when your kids are acting up or just want your attention, it can be easy to turn your head to see what’s going on and take your eyes off of the road. Just don’t!
When my boys were little, they often wanted my attention because they were upset or something was wrong. Rather than get distracted, I would pull over if I could to address whatever was going on. Stopping for a minute or two is worth it.
Even now that they’re 7 and 9 years old, they want me to check out their dance moves in the backseat. I just gently remind them that I’m driving and say I’d love to see their moves the moment we get home.
Checkout SmartRide from Nationwide
There’s an auto insurance program that evaluates driving behavior from Nationwide called SmartRide. It actually evaluates your driving behavior based on things like mileage, time of driving, fast accelerations, hard brakes and idle time. SmartRide is really a great option to take advantage of your great driving habits that you already have and learn if you need some improvements, too.
I consider myself a pretty good driver, so I think this could be an awesome way to save money on our car insurance. (Yep! This program can save you money. Read on!) I am always looking for ways to save money in our household. You and I both know that life is expensive, and I’m already a safe driver, so why not be rewarded for it?
HOW TO LOWER YOUR CAR INSURANCE WITH NATIONWIDE
I never even knew that something like this program existed until recently, so I’m very excited to try it out to see how much our insurance can go down. That’s right. I’m not just writing about the SmartRide Program, I’m going to participate and share my experiences with you down the road. I’d love it if you joined me in the experience!
Besides getting constructive feedback on your driving, you can earn a discount of up to 40% based on your driving behaviors. And did I mention you get 10% off your insurance with Nationwide just for signing up?!? (Just a heads up — discounts and program availability vary by state.) And don’t worry… your rates will not go up as a result of the program.
The SmartRide device is also easy-to-install. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. (What mom needs to add something complicated in her life, right?)
I’m particularly excited that I get to lower my car insurance just for trying out the program. And just keep in mind that your rates will not go up as a result of the program. In fact, you get that initial discount just for trying it out.
What tips do you have for safe driving?
Nationwide asked that I include this information about the product:
“Products underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliates. Columbus, Ohio. Availability varies. Discounts do not apply to all coverage elements; actual savings vary by state, coverage selections, rating factors and policy changes. Enrollment discount applies during data collection; final discount is calculated on driving behavior and could be zero. Final discount applies at the next policy renewal and remains until drivers or vehicles on the policy change.”
Thank you for the help. I just bought a new car and am trying to choose a car insurance policy. I had no idea that safe driving habits alone could save me so much on insurance. How can I prove to the insurance provider that I am a safe driver?
Wearing a seat belt is definitely a priority with me, but sometimes it’s difficult to keep track of whether my kids are wearing them or not. Do you have any tips for how I might make sure that they are wearing them as well? Driving safe is important for a lot of reasons, one of them being insurances costs, so I appreciate all of your helpful information on that! Thank you for an applicable article, I’ll be keeping this in mind!
Making sure you are driving safely by paying attention to the road is really important. It’s also smart to be aware of the other drivers on the road. Thanks for sharing the tips.
I like that you talked about how you should keep you eyes forward. That does seem like hard thing for a mom to do. I know that if someone is fighting in my backseat I want to look back at them. But not looking back does seem like it would help you be a better and safer driver. Doing that will probably also help with auto insurance.