As summer travel season heats up, AAA – The Auto Club Group is urging motorists to take a closer look at dangerous driving behaviors that contribute to thousands of preventable traffic deaths each year.
The organization launched its new campaign, “Crashes Hit Different When They Happen to You,” on May 28 to highlight the four leading contributors to fatal crashes: speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and failure to wear a seatbelt.
“Nobody wakes up thinking they’ll be part of a fatal crash that day,” said Tiffany Wright, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Risky driving habits turn ordinary moments into tragedies, and the consequences ripple far beyond the driver who makes a reckless choice.”
The campaign comes as U.S. roads grow busier with drivers heading to beaches, vacations, and family gatherings. According to AAA, someone is killed in a crash every 12 minutes nationwide, with traffic collisions costing the U.S. $340 billion annually—equivalent to about $230 per household in taxes.
In 2023, speeding was a factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities. Distracted driving, particularly texting, increases crash risk by 23 times. Impaired driving kills 32 people per day on average in the U.S., and nearly 60% of back-seat passengers who died in crashes in 2022 were not wearing seatbelts.
“These losses aren’t accidents—they’re preventable,” Wright said. “This campaign isn’t just a message; it’s a lifeline. We all share the responsibility to keep our roads safe.”
AAA’s campaign also features personal stories and partnerships with local communities to reinforce its message. The organization is encouraging drivers to slow down, put away their phones, avoid impaired driving, and always wear seatbelts.
For more information, visit AAA’s campaign website.
AAA – The Auto Club Group serves more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states and two U.S. territories, offering services including roadside assistance, insurance, and travel planning.
