Safety Culture - AAA Centers of Excellence

CENTER OVERVIEW: SAFETY CULTURE

Traffic crashes are the number one killer of children, adolescents, and young adults in the United States, accounting for more years of potential life lost before age 80 than all other sources of unintentional injury combined. In the last decade, the number of Americans injured in crashes added up to more than the combined resident populations of twenty states. In September 2001, motor vehicle crashes killed more Americans than the terrorists did on September 11^th. And, while our government tells us that our roads are safer than ever -- and in many ways they are -- the cold hard fact that seems to escape our collective consciousness is that year after year, about 43,000 people lose their lives on America’s roads -- one every 13 minutes!

Meanwhile, experts have suggested that we could cut this toll in half or better if only we would implement a few proven lifesaving countermeasures that we already know about. So why don’t we?

SAFETY CULTURE NEWS

December 9, 2008 Winter Driving Safety Tips

"Old Man Winter" is just about here, and with his arrival comes wet, icy roads, freezing weather conditions, and unanticipated hazards. Before you get behind the wheel this winter, check out these tips:

• Take it slow. Reducing speed is your ...

December 9, 2008 Majority of Americans Wrongly Believe Hand-Free Cell Phones are Safer than Hand-Held Devices

Two-thirds of Americans who use cell phones while driving believe it is safer to talk on a hands-free cell phone than on a hand-held device according to a new study released today by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. However ...

November 10, 2008 Walk this Way!

Remember all lessons you learned as a child about traffic safety? Well, today's world keeps getting busier and fast. Everyone is looking for ways to save on fuel costs, and protect our environment. Walking is also great exercise! But ...

September 17, 2008 Is your new car putting you at risk?

Congratulations! You've just purchased or rented a car that has all the "bells and whistles" like a navigation system, high-intensity discharge (HID) or adaptive headlights, a rearview camera, backing aid sensors and adaptive cruise control. Now that you have ...

Read all safety culture articles

SAFETY CULTURE NAVIGATION

Changing attitudes and behaviors that contribute to complacency about car crashes and risky driving.

DONATE

Your tax-deductible gift of any amount goes directly towards research and education, and helps us to make roads safer for everyone. We have earned the highest rating from Charity Navigator four years in a row – a distinction only seven percent of all nonprofits can claim. Please consider making a contribution today. The Centers of Excellence is a project of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 52-0794368.

TRAFFIC FACT

More than 3 million people are injured on our roadways every year.

NHTSA

NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

Receive the latest from the Centers of Excellence program in your inbox every month—or sign up for our RSS feed and be sure you’re up to speed with the latest news from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.