AAA: Drivers support promising solutions to curb impaired driving

Drivers admit to dangerous habits behind wheel, but still want tougher safeguards to prevent impaired driving

By AAA of Western & Central New York

Today, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) released a new report that shows that, while risky driving behaviors remain widespread, Americans strongly support a range of impaired-driving countermeasures that could significantly reduce fatalities.

Risky driving behaviors like distracted driving, speeding, or driving while impaired contribute to tens of thousands of traffic deaths each year. Federal officials estimate that more than 39,000 people were killed in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024 – a slight decrease from the previous year, but still a stark reminder of the persistent public health crisis on American roads.

“Findings from the AAA Foundation survey give us a strong sense of what drivers see as risky, and what they want done about it,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAAFTS. “Those insights can help safety stakeholders and policymakers focus on effective solutions with broad public support.”

The annual traffic safety culture index examines driver attitudes, self-reported behaviors, and support for evidence-based traffic safety policies. This year’s results highlight a clear pattern: Even as some drivers continue to take dangerous risks, most Americans want stronger safeguards that prevent impaired driving, including advanced vehicle technologies and more protective legal standards.

√ 67% support requiring all new cars to include alcohol-impairment prevention technology.

√ 51% support lowering the legal BAC limit from 0.08 to 0.05.

Still, the survey found a troubling number of drivers still choose to drive impaired.

√ 93% say driving after drinking is very or extremely dangerous, yet 7% say they did so in the past 30 days.

√ 70% say driving within an hour of using marijuana is very or extremely dangerous – and 6% reported doing so.

“These findings show that the public is ready for stronger action,” said Gene Boehm, president and CEO of AAA Inc. “People overwhelmingly want policies and technologies that prevent impaired driving, and those tools already exist. Implementing policies like the HALT Drunk Driving Law, alongside fair and effective enforcement, could save thousands of lives each year.”

December is Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and AAA is teaming up with MADD and Waymo to remind drivers to always plan a sober ride home whenever they go out to celebrate.

The survey also found risky behavior persists in other areas:

•Distracted driving:

√ 97% say scrolling social media, 94% texting/emailing, and 90% reading on a hand-held phone are extremely or very dangerous – yet 28% texted, 37% read messages, and 36% talked on a hand-held phone while driving.

√ 79% support a hand-held phone ban; only 40% support limits on hands-free use.

•Aggressive driving and speeding:

√ 90% view aggressive driving and 80% running red lights as extremely or very dangerous.

√ Fewer drivers saw speeding as dangerous compared to other risky behaviors.

√ 58% believe they’d be caught driving 15 mph over the limit, yet about half did so in the past month.

√ Only 46% support speed cameras on residential streets.

For more information on survey methodology, data considerations, and results, refer to the full traffic safety culture index report.

Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a nonprofit, publicly funded 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. The AAA Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by researching their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur. This research informs the development of educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users. 

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 866,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA WCNY has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.