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Aaa Foundation for Traffic Safety

EIN 52-0794368 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY'S MISSION IS TO SAVE LIVES AND REDUCE INJURIES THROUGH RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CRASHES, AND EDUCATION ABOUT PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING RISKS ON THE ROAD.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
49.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
18
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$428,867, president & executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 49.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $5.1 million spent. RESEARCH: IN 2025, AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY (THE FOUNDATION) PUBLISHED 17 NEW TRAFFIC SAFETY REPORTS, INITIATED 7 NEW TRAFFIC SAFETY RESEARCH CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS, BEGAN 6 IN-HOUSE STUDIES, AND CONTINUED WORK ON 21 TRAFFIC SAFETY RESEARCH PROJECTS INITIATED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.THE FOUNDATION FUNDED, MANAGED, AND/OR PERFORMED RESEARCH IN 2025, DETAILED IN THE FOLLOWING REPORTS (IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER BY DATE OF PUBLICATION): PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES ON URBAN ARTERIAL ROADS AT NIGHT: AN IN-DEPTH CRASH ANALYSIS AND THREE CASE STUDIES; DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF MESSAGING TO DETER CANNABIS-IMPAIRED DRIVING; EXAMINATION OF CANNABIS USERS' PERCEPTIONS AND SELF-REPORTED BEHAVIORS TO INFORM MESSAGING TO DETER IMPAIRED DRIVING; ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG OLDER DRIVERS: AAA LONGROAD STUDY; A RANDOMIZED FIELD TRIAL OF SMARTPHONE-BASED FEEDBACK DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE SAFE DRIVING: COMPARING FOCUSED AND SELF-CHOSEN GOALS TO STANDARD USAGE-BASED INSURANCE MESSAGING; ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VEHICLE LIGHTING: REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND STATE REGULATIONS; INCREASING THE USE OF SMARTPHONE-LIMITING TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT DISTRACTED DRIVING; EFFECTS OF TRAINING CONTENT AND APPROACH ON DRIVERS' UNDERSTANDING OF AND PERFORMANCE WITH ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS; DRIVING WITH PARTIAL DRIVING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS: DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE TRAINING THAT DRIVERS WILL USE; AGGRESSIVE DRIVING AND ROAD RAGE; EXAMINING TRAFFIC SAFETY ACROSS COMMUNITIES: A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND CASE STUDIES IN ARIZONA, MARYLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, AND OREGON; SOCIAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE FACTORS SHAPING ROAD SAFETY: A MULTI-LEVEL ANALYSIS OF CRASHES IN OHIO, TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON; SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER LAWS: INVESTIGATING FACTORS INFLUENCING DRIVERS' BEHAVIOR AND COMPLIANCE; SUMMARY OF LONGROAD RESEARCH ON OLDER DRIVERS FROM THE AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY: 2017-2025; THE SAFETY IMPACT OF ROAD DEBRIS: UPDATED PREVALENCES OF CRASHES, INJURIES, AND DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES, 2018-2023; 2024 TRAFFIC SAFETY CULTURE INDEX; AND AMERICAN DRIVING SURVEY: 2024.FOUNDATION RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE USED TO SUPPORT NATIONAL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, SUCH AS NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK AND DROWSY DRIVING PREVENTION WEEK. THEY ARE ALSO USED TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND SUPPORT ADVOCACY EFFORTS OF AAA AND OTHER TRAFFIC SAFETY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS. FOUNDATION RESEARCH FINDINGS ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY HAVE BEEN CITED IN NUMEROUS STATE AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT PLANS, OUTLINING NEEDED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. ALL THESE EFFORTS ARE ULTIMATELY DESIGNED TO INFLUENCE AND AFFECT REAL WORLD IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAFFIC SAFETY. FOUNDATION RESEARCH HAS ALSO SUPPORTED OUR NUMEROUS PARTNERSHIPS IN THE TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY COMMUNITIES. THE FOUNDATION CO-SPONSORED A RESEARCH PROJECT WITH VIRGINIA TECH TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE TO ASSESS THE PREVALENCES OF TASK ENGAGEMENT AND DROWSINESS IN DRIVERS WHEN USING CERTAIN AUTOMATED SYSTEMS COMPARED TO SITUATIONS WHERE THE SAME SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE BUT NOT ACTIVE. THIS WORK ALSO EXAMINED THE ROLE OF DISTRACTION AND DROWSINESS IN CRASHES AND NEAR-CRASH SITUATIONS.FINALLY, IN 2025, THE FOUNDATION INITIATED RESEARCH PROJECTS WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING GOALS: EXAMINING THE RANGE OF AMERICAN'S ATTITUDES TOWARDS SPEEDING AND RELATED COUNTERMEASURES; INVESTIGATING THE PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF VARIOUS DISTRACTED DRIVING BEHAVIORS; UNDERSTANDING HOW INDIVIDUAL, INTERPERSONAL, SOCIAL, AND CONTEXTUAL FACTORS INFLUENCE THE DECISION TO DRIVE WHILE IMPAIRED; CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING A ROADSIDE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM; UPDATING AND EXTENDING FOUNDATION'S PREVIOUS RESEARCH ON WRONG-WAY CRASHES; PROVIDING UPDATED STATISTICS ON FATAL HIT-AND-RUN CRASHES; EXAMINING THE NATURE OF DRIVING DONE BY NOVICE DRIVING; MEASURING THE PREVALENCE OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS IN-VEHICLE DRUNK DRIVING TECHNOLOGY; ASSESSING THE AWARENESS OF AND ATTITUDES TOWARD SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER LAWS; ASSESSING THE PREVALENCE OF SECONDARY TASK ENGAGEMENT AND DROWSINESS IN DRIVERS WHEN USING L2 AUTOMATED SYSTEMS; EXAMINING THE PRE-CRASH CONDITIONS LEADING TO PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES; PROVIDING GUIDANCE CONCERNING THE IDEAL WORK LIGHT PROPERTIES AND BEST PRACTICES REGARDING THEIR PLACEMENT AND USE; IDENTIFYING COST-EFFECTIVE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS; AND THE LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH ON AGING DRIVERS (LONGROAD) STUDY.
  2. $272,844 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: ALL RESEARCH REPORTS AND FINDINGS PRODUCED BY THE AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY (THE FOUNDATION) ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION PRODUCES COMPLEMENTARY MATERIALS FOR EACH PROJECT SO THAT VISITORS TO THE WEBSITE CAN FIND KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM EACH STUDY. THESE MAY INCLUDE REPORT SUMMARIES, INFOGRAPHICS, ETC. THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED OUTREACH THROUGH CONFERENCES, FORUMS, AND WORKSHOPS TO A RANGE OF AUDIENCES INCLUDING TECHNICAL EXPERTS, KEY STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH THE GOAL OF EFFECTING REAL-WORLD IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAFFIC SAFETY. IN 2025, THE FOUNDATION RESEARCH FINDINGS WERE PRESENTED AT NUMEROUS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS INCLUDING: THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD ANNUAL MEETING; 2025 U.S. SAFE SYSTEM ACADEMY; INTERNATIONAL TASKFORCE ON VEHICLE-HIGHWAY AUTOMATION MEETING; 2025 CONFERENCE OF AAA INDEPENDENT CLUBS; MOBILITY INNOVATION WEEK JAPAN 2025; AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH ANNUAL CONFERENCE; SPEED MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COOP MEETING; AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING AND EXPO; FHWA SAFETY SERVICE PATROL WORKSHOP; HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING; AND LIFESAVERS CONFERENCE. THE FOUNDATION'S PRESENCE AT THESE CONFERENCES HELPED SPREAD THE FOUNDATION'S RESEARCH AND MISSION TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HAD AN EXHIBIT BOOTH AT THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD ANNUAL MEETING IN 2025.IN ADDITION TO THESE EXTERNALLY HOSTED EVENTS, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED ITS SECOND SAFE MOBILITY CONFERENCE IN MADISON, WISCONSIN. THIS THREE-DAY EVENT WAS CONVENED TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS FROM INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT, AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT, SHARE INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFY CHALLENGES, SOLUTIONS, AND BEST PRACTICES GEARED TOWARD ACHIEVING SAFER MOBILITY FOR ALL ROAD USERS. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF HIGH-QUALITY AND DIVERSE WORKSHOPS, TECHNICAL SESSIONS, AND PLENARY SESSIONS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO STRIVES TO PUBLISH MUCH OF OUR RESEARCH IN LEADING PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL JOURNALS TO ENSURE THAT OUR MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE SHARED WITH THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AND POLICYMAKERS. IN 2025, RESEARCH PERFORMED AND/OR FUNDED BY THE FOUNDATION WAS PUBLISHED IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS INCLUDING: HUMAN FACTORS JOURNAL, SLEEP JOURNAL, JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT & HEALTH, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, AND JOURNAL OF APPLIED GERONTOLOGY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1970.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

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