Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and Nationwide Insurance Continue Partnership to Highlight Teen Safety

"Buckle Up" Campaign addresses number one killer of teens

CHESHIRE, Conn., Sept. 12, 2008; The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) and Nationwide Mutual Insurance announced today that they are joining forces once again to promote smart teen driving through the Buckle Up for a Successful Season campaign.

"On behalf of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, I want to thank Nationwide Insurance for their continued commitment and involvement in the Buckle Up for a Successful Season campaign. Their support has only strengthened our efforts to educate and encourage our youth to 'buckle up' and become smart drivers. I appreciate their partnership in this very important initiative," Michael Savage, Executive Director of the CIAC, 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 www.nationwidesmartride.com, a website dedicated to teen driving.

Vehicle crashes remain the number one cause of death for teenagers, accounting for roughly a third of all deaths in this age group. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teenage drivers and passengers are among those least likely to wear their seat belts. The Buckle Up for a Successful Season campaign has one simple yet powerful goal - to achieve a safer highway environment. The campaign, which commences with the upcoming high school football season, is in its 2nd year.

Buckle Up for a Successful Season is a community-level traffic initiative that involves a large portion of the 183 member schools that are part of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. 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 www.nationwide.com.