Page 4 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – May/June 2019

AAA
High Mileage
Driving in the U.S. is on the Rise
TM
WITH YOU ON THE ROAD OF LIFE
What Our Members are Saying
AAA NOW! Testimonials
On AAA Travel:
We had a very enjoyable and relaxing
trip. Everyone was friendly and showed a willingness to help with any questions we had. We were especially pleased with all the help we received from Stacy. She was terrific!
— Terry, from Lititz
On AAA Mature Operator Classes:
This is an excellent program and Kevin is an outstanding presenter. Highly recommended.
Thank you.
— John, from Lancaster
On AAA Roadside Assistance:
I am very thankful for the excellent care I received from Marcus during an extremely traumatic time following the crash! He was very thoughtful and patient with me. Thank you all at AAA! I will praise you every chance
I get! I never knew how traumatizing an accident like this could be and AAA helped it to go very smooth.
— Susan, from Gettysburg
On AAA Insurance:
I am writing to let you know how much I appreciated the work of your dedicated AAA employee, Paula. Paula had to go through
a lot of extra time and effort ... customer service and satisfaction are so important and I received both in a great way.
— Jean, from Landisville
On AAA Driving School:
My son had a great experience with Ms. Hawkins. She was very kind, helpful and knowledgeable. I was very pleased with how accommodating she was when scheduling our classes with my son’s after school activities.
— Leslie, from Lititz
If you think you’re spending more time in your
car, you’re right. All Americans are spending more time driving, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s latest American Driving Survey –
an additional 20 minutes per week on average, an
8 percent increase from five years ago.
The most recent survey examined data from 2014- 2017, the latest available. The amount of time driving per day increased, with U.S. drivers spending nearly an hour (51 minutes) behind the wheel. The average number of daily miles driven was 31.5, more than a 5 percent increase since 2014.
In total, Americans drive 71 billion miles each year. That averages out to 11,498 miles for all Americans each year. That’s the equivalent of making two round- trip drives from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. There are several factors contributing to the increases, including higher vehicle ownership, lower gas prices and aging highway infrastructure, which can contribute to more traffic delays.
One negative implication of more time behind the wheel is that it can equate to greater chances of a crash. “The more time drivers spend behind the wheel, the greater their exposure to risks on the roadway” said Dr. David Yang, executive director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Longer time behind the wheel could lead to issues such as fatigue, distraction, and impatience for drivers, which are all contributing factors for vehicle crashes. Drivers need to stay alert and focused on the key task at hand, driving. This can save your life and the lives of your passengers and people with whom you share the road.”
The AAA Foundation conducts the American Driving Survey to better understand driving habits, and subsequently, exposure to traffic risks.
AAA recommends that drivers on longer trips take breaks every two hours or 100 miles. And it’s important for drivers to avoid distractions such as cellphones no matter how much time they spend behind the wheel. Other findings from the American Driving Survey:
• Men drive 27 percent more miles than women.
• People who are married or living with a partner spend at least 12 percent more time driving than those who are not.
• Drivers age 75 or older are spending, on average, 34.8 minutes a day driving –
a 23 percent increase from 2014-2015.
• Drivers in the West spend the most time driving (58.9 minutes per day), followed by drivers in
the Northeast (51.1 minutes), South (49.9 minutes) and Midwest (44.5 minutes).
• The number of Midwestern people who reported driving has dropped 3 percent, while the number of drivers in the Northeast, South and West increased or remained the same.
With driving on the rise in the U.S., it is more important than ever to be properly insured. Let AAA help you design an insurance policy to fit your driving needs. To find out more call your local AAA Central Penn Insurance Agency at 844-345-1823 or go online AAA.com/insurance.
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MAY/JUNE 2019
Now!