As the summer months approach, roads become busier with travelers heading to vacations, beaches, and family gatherings.
The increase in traffic also increases the risk of crashes, often involving preventable factors.
AAA is launching a summer safety campaign, called “Crashes Hit Different When They Happen to You.”
The campaign urges drivers to stay vigilant and address the four leading contributors to traffic injuries and fatalities: speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and not wearing a seat belt.
“Nobody wakes up thinking they’ll be part of a fatal crash that day,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA. “Risky driving habits turn ordinary moments into tragedies, and the consequences ripple far beyond the driver who makes a reckless choice. Crashes claim the lives of innocent drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians – and every choice on the road holds the power to save a life or shatter it. These losses aren’t accidents, they’re preventable."
Traffic fatalities
On average, every 12 minutes, someone is killed in a car crash on our nation’s roads. These traffic crashes cost the U.S. $340 billion a year, the equivalent of $230 in taxes for every household.
The loss of life and income can be prevented if drivers avoid the four leading causes of traffic fatalities, AAA says.
Leading Causes of Traffic Fatalities
- Speeding not only decreases reaction time but dramatically increases the severity of crashes.
- In 2023, speeding contributed to 29% of traffic fatalities.
- Distracted driving, whether texting or adjusting a playlist, takes eyes off the road for mere seconds but can lead to irreversible outcomes.
- People who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be in a crash.
- Impaired driving, often linked to summer celebrations, poses significant dangers to both drivers and pedestrians.
- Despite the risk, millions of people drive impaired in the United States each year. Every day, 32 people are killed in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. This does not account for crashes involving drivers impaired by cannabis or opioids.
- Seat belts remain a critical yet frequently ignored safeguard against injury or death.
- On average, every 47 minutes, someone not wearing a seat belt dies in a car crash. In 2022, nearly 60% of back-seat passengers killed in crashes were unbuckled.
Oftentimes, drivers engage in more than one of these behaviors.
In addition to compelling statistics, AAA’s safety campaign explores personal stories and community partnerships to emphasize the devastating impact of crashes and the power of choice.
Drivers are encouraged to slow down, put the phone away, never drive impaired, and buckle up every time.
“Risky driving habits might seem like someone else’s issue—until the crash happens to you or your loved ones,” said Jenkins. “This campaign isn’t just a message; it’s a lifeline. We all share the responsibility to keep our roads safe.”
You can join AAA in spreading awareness and practicing safe driving habits: buckle up, slow down, watch your speed and watch the road.
For more information on the ‘Crashes Hit Different’ campaign, visit https://sm.aaa/CrashesHitDifferent
