PRESS RELEASE
Auto Breakdowns Can Be Life Threatening, Says AAA Foundation Study
15 January 1997
Auto Breakdowns Can Be Life Threatening, Says AAA Foundation Study
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 14 -- AAA is warning motorists to take
extra precautions if their vehicles break down on Interstate highways.
According to a new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety more than
500 people on foot were killed on Interstate highways last year, and almost
one-third of them were motorists who broke down, ran out of gas, or were
involved in a previous collision.
The AAA Foundation study looked at 400 police accident reports from Texas,
Missouri, and North Carolina, along with national data from the Fatal Accident
Reporting System. Forty percent of the fatalities were pedestrians who were
crossing or standing in the roadway, including undocumented alien crossings.
One third of deaths occurred to "unintended pedestrians" -- motorists who
were working on their vehicle, walking on the shoulder, or exchanging
information after an existing crash. Three out of four deaths occurred after
dark.
State rankings were determined by comparing ratios of pedestrian
fatalities to vehicle miles traveled. Nationally, California ranked eleventh
in descending order of severity at 271 fatalities to 2,021.5 million miles
traveled. Last year in California, AAA responded to over 3 million member
emergency breakdowns including 230,634 Public Agency requests for motorists
stranded on major roadways.
"People just don't understand the real danger is not breaking down but in
stepping onto the Interstate," said AAA Traffic Safety Manager Merry Banks.
Ten percent of the nation's pedestrian deaths occur on Intestate highways,
which comprise only one percent of the country's total road system.
The AAA foundation for Traffic Safety advises motorists who break down on
the Interstate to:
* Pull off the roadway to the extreme right of the shoulder
* Put hazard lights on and flares out
* Wear visible clothing -- a retro-reflective vest is best
* Keep in mind that in some situations it may be safer to stay in the car,
lock the door and wait for help.
* Cellular phone users can help by reporting broken-down vehicles to the
police.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a not-for-profit charitable
organization funded by donations from American Automobile Association and
Canadian Automobile Association clubs and members. It is devoted to
preventing crashes and saving lives through research and education in the
field of traffic safety.
California State Automobile Association is the AAA-affiliated auto club
providing an array of automotive, travel, financial and insurance services to
more than 3.6 million members throughout northern California, Nevada, and
Utah.
CONTACT: Lee Ford, 415-565-2294, or Bronwyn Hogan, 415-565-2293, both of the California State Automobile Association CSAA press releases available through Company News On-Call by fax, 800- 758-5804, ext. 100809, or at http://www.prnewswire.com