Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins Nationwide campaign in Charlotte area targeting teen phone distraction behind the wheel

A new safety push tied to Teen Driving Awareness Month

A multimedia road-safety campaign featuring NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is rolling out during Teen Driving Awareness Month, focusing on one of the most persistent risks for young drivers: distraction caused by mobile phones.

The initiative pairs Earnhardt Jr. with Nationwide in a message aimed at teens and families: drivers should avoid handling phones while behind the wheel. The campaign also highlights an app-based rewards program that tracks phone handling during trips and offers points that can be redeemed for gift cards.

Charlotte-area filming connects the message to hands-on training

The campaign was filmed on a driving course near Charlotte designed by B.R.A.K.E.S., a teen-driver safety program that provides training with professional instructors. The footage centers on a parent-and-teen pair practicing driving techniques in a controlled environment, alongside Earnhardt Jr.

That local setting matters because North Carolina’s licensing system and driving laws place particular emphasis on limiting distraction for novice drivers. State guidance prohibits drivers under 18 from using a mobile phone while driving except in emergencies or for limited communication with a parent or spouse. Separately, state law bars drivers of any age from reading or writing text messages or emails while the vehicle is moving.

Why teen driving remains a public-safety focus

National crash data continues to show elevated risk among young drivers. Federal safety agencies have consistently found that drivers ages 16–19 have the highest crash risk of any age group, with the earliest months of licensure presenting especially high risk. Nighttime driving, weekend driving, inconsistent seat belt use and inexperience compound that vulnerability.

Federal highway safety reporting also underscores the scale of the problem: in 2023, 2,611 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver ages 15–18, and more than half of teen passenger-vehicle drivers who died that year were unbuckled.

How the rewards program is structured

The campaign spotlights Nationwide’s Focused Driving Rewards, which is available through the company’s mobile app and does not require participants to be Nationwide insurance customers. The program reports a score periodically based on phone-handling events (such as tapping, hand-held calls, or phone motion) and assigns points for distraction-free driving.

• Enrollment is open beyond Nationwide policyholders.
• Younger drivers can earn up to $60 every six months, depending on participation and performance.
• The program is not offered in several states, including California and New York.

The campaign’s central theme is behavioral: reducing phone handling while driving, particularly among new drivers learning road judgment and hazard recognition in real-world conditions.

What it means for families

Safety experts generally point to a layered approach for teen drivers: clear household rules, seat belt enforcement, limits on passengers and nighttime driving, and consistent modeling by adult drivers. The Earnhardt Jr. campaign is structured around that family dynamic, presenting distraction as a preventable risk shaped by habit, supervision and tools that measure behavior behind the wheel.