The 2024 Traffic Safety Culture Index from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals a striking gap between what American drivers know about road risks and how they actually behave behind the wheel.

Nearly all drivers recognize the dangers of distracted driving, with about 97 % labeling scrolling through social media and 94 % deeming texting or emailing while driving as very or extremely dangerous, yet significant percentages admit to engaging in these behaviors, including 11 % scrolling through social media and 37 % reading a text while driving in the past 30 days. Similarly, while 90 % view aggressive driving as dangerous and 80 % see running red lights as high risk, many drivers continue to speed and drive drowsy or impaired, with one-quarter reporting they’ve driven while tired recently. Overall, 96 % of respondents expressed concern about roadway safety, showing broad awareness even as risky habits persist.

The report also tracks evolving patterns of driver behavior over time, identifying five distinct driving profiles ranging from “Safe Drivers” — who rarely partake in unsafe practices — to “Most Dangerous Drivers” — who engage in multiple risky behaviors. Encouragingly, the smallest share of drivers falls into the most dangerous category, and its prevalence has declined over time, but groups defined by distracted and aggressive driving have grown slightly.

Additionally, about half of drivers say they’ve made personal changes to drive more defensively, such as reducing speed or increasing following distance. These nuanced insights underscore the complex interplay between perceptions, social norms, and real-world driving behavior — highlighting both progress and ongoing challenges in shifting American traffic safety culture.

The report can be found here.