Ohio High School Athletic Association and Nationwide Team up for Teen Safety

'Buckle Up' Campaign Addresses Number One Killer Of Teens

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 4 -- In time for the kickoff of high school football in Ohio, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) and Nationwide Mutual Insurance have teamed up to promote smart teen driving through the Buckle-Up for a Successful Season campaign.

"We are thrilled to announce that Nationwide Insurance will join us in our effort to encourage teen drivers to 'buckle-up.' We applaud their recognition of this important campaign. There is nothing more important than Ohio's youth and we all have a responsibility for their safety," Daniel B. Ross, Ph.D., Commissioner of the OHSAA, said.

"The best way to keep teens safe on the road is by helping them become smart drivers," said Bill Windsor, associate vice president of safety for Nationwide. "Buckle-Up for a Successful Season reminds teens that being a smart driver starts with fastening your seatbelt." Nationwide operates http://www.nationwidesmartride.com/, a website dedicated to teen driving.

Vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers. In 2006, nearly 66% of 16-20 year olds killed in Ohio accidents were not wearing a safety belt. The Buckle-Up for a Successful Season campaign has one simple yet powerful goal -- to achieve a safer highway environment. The campaign, which coincides with the upcoming high school football season, is in its 4th year.

Buckle-Up for a Successful Season is a community-level traffic initiative that involves a large portion of the 833 member schools that are part of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The objective is to promote a safer highway environment by reminding and encouraging student-athletes, coaches, cheerleaders, band members, and fans to buckle up when going to school, practices, games -- everywhere, every time. Signs, program advertising and events are among the techniques used at various high schools.

About Nationwide:

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $160 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #104 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit http://www.nationwide.com/.