Every day, preventable motor vehicle crashes claim lives and devastate families. These tragedies are not accidents; they are the result of choices made behind the wheel. That’s why AAA urges drivers to make safety their top priority in 2026.
In 2024, more than 39,000 people were killed in U.S. traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This sobering statistic is a clear reminder of the risks we face on our roads and the urgent need for safer driving habits.
On average, someone is killed in a car crash every 12 minutes on our nation’s roads, primarily due to four factors: speeding, distractions, impaired driving, and not buckling up.