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As summer approaches and many people take vacations with their families or head out on road trips, we’re reminded of the joy that comes with travel — but also the risks on the roadways.
Every year about 40,000 people are killed in crashes on our nation’s roads. The leading causes? Speeding. Impaired driving. Distractions behind the wheel. Failing to wear a seatbelt. These are not just statistics — they’re preventable tragedies that affect real people: families, friends and neighbors.
That’s why AAA - The Auto Club Group is launching a powerful new campaign: “Crashes Hit Different.” At its core, it’s a call to action.
This new campaign aims to shine a light on four key causes of crashes, all of which are preventable:
These aren’t new issues, but they remain urgent.
Every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 39 minutes. Drinking alcohol before driving significantly increases the likelihood of a crash.
The ratio of blood to alcohol in the body is called BAC, or blood alcohol concentration. The higher a driver’s BAC, the more impaired they will be. Impairment can occur at BAC levels as low as .02, which many people do not realize.
While alcohol is the most commonly found drug among impaired drivers, other substances, including prescription drugs and cannabis, can also have impairing effects. Cannabis — even used medicinally — can impair essential driving skills, such as reaction time, decision making, coordination and perception.
As part of the Crashes Hit Different campaign, we will be educating communities about impaired driving and working with legislatures to pass stricter laws, including ignition interlock bills, which require first-time DUI offenders to install devices to monitor their BAC for every drive.
Another critical issue on our roadways — one that is responsible for about one-third of all roadway fatalities — is speeding. While most of us take for granted going a little over the speed limit on routine errands in town or on highways for longer road trips, speeding has become a critical traffic safety issue.
High speeds make a crash more likely because drivers have less time to react, and because it requires a longer distance to stop or slow down. They also make collisions more deadly because even modest increases in speed cause large increases in crash energy.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), many drivers in speeding-related crashes also engaged in other risky driving behaviors.
Drivers who were speeding in fatal crashes were more frequently impaired by alcohol than drivers who were not speeding. Additionally, more than half of speeding passenger vehicle drivers were not wearing a seat belt, as compared to 23 percent of non-speeding passenger vehicle drivers.
While buckling up may be routine for many, there are still many holdouts, especially when people are in the back seat. On average, every 47 minutes, someone not wearing a seat belt dies in a car crash, and nearly 60 percent of back-seat passengers who are killed in car crashes are unbuckled.
Our campaign will work to address this issue through educational efforts, starting with our driver’s education programs, and continuing through outreach for all ages. We will also work to pass legislation making seat belt use a primary offense for all passengers.
Driving anywhere for any length of time requires timely decisions to be made, and constant attention on the roads and other drivers. Adding in distractions, especially those on a phone, can significantly reduce reaction times, putting other motorists and also pedestrians in danger. In fact, texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by 23 times. Driver distraction is also responsible for nearly 60 percent of teen crashes.
It's far too common to drive down the road and see other drivers engaged in texting , watching videos or other risky distractions while driving. We will use this campaign to strengthen distracted driving laws and work with law enforcement and other safety partners to continue to educate drivers on making safe choices behind the wheel.
At AAA, safety is not just what we do — it’s who we are. We’re using this campaign to reach communities, share real stories, advocate for laws that keep road users safe and challenge drivers to think twice before making risky decisions behind the wheel.
And while all of this work plays a role in making a difference, lasting change begins with personal responsibility. Every time we get behind the wheel, we make choices: buckle up, put the phone down, drive sober and slow down. We can choose safety — for ourselves, our loved ones and for everyone on the road around us. Because when a crash hits close to home, it’s no longer a headline. It’s personal.
We invite all of you to support this campaign by living it. Share the message, talk to your family, and most importantly, lead by example. Together, we can help prevent tragedies and save lives on our roads.
Stay safe!
AAA has been advocating for driver safety, fair laws and safer vehicles for over 100 years – all to allow our members to go wherever adventure takes them, safely.
