Remarkably, whenever Americans are polled regarding major public health threats or significant issues confronting society, “road safety consistently does not rank as a major concern.” Quite simply, both individuals and society as a whole are extremely complacent regarding the magnitude and scope of the traffic safety problems in this country.  Despite the staggering statistics – one death every 13 minutes; over 40,000 lives lost each year – the American public doesn’t appear to recognize the risks and adopt less risky driving habits. Further, they are unwilling to demand that known safety solutions be implemented by state legislatures or additional resources be devoted to making our roads and highways safer.  The AAA Foundation’s ongoing “safety culture” initiative, was initiated to examine why this is and what can be done to change those perceptions, attitudes and ultimately, behaviors. We are conducting a national survey, the results of which we plan to release throughout 2008. We hope that by highlighting traffic safety concerns to the public we can increase awareness and bring about behavioral change so that our society is not complacent about the countless injuries and deaths that occur each year on our nation’s roads.

While the Foundation has made exceptional strides in funding original research to improve traffic safety, these statistics highlight there is still much to do. As we expand our research into areas of great public concern, such as improving driver education for teens, and keeping seniors safe on the roads, we need your support more than ever.  Your tax-deductible contribution will help us save lives through research and education.  Please consider making a gift today.

Yours truly,

J. Peter Kissinger
President and CEO
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Consider Donating to the AAA Foundation…The AAA Foundation is supported almost entirely through the generous contributions of individuals, just like you.  To make your gift to help us continue our life-saving work, please visit our website. Simply click the "Help Us Make a Difference" link at the top of the page, and your gift can be made safely and securely.  The Foundation is a nonprofit organization, and every contribution is fully tax-deductible