As National Passenger Safety Week (Jan. 19-26) begins, AAA is urging passengers to take an active role in keeping themselves and others safe on the road. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, passengers account for 24% of passenger‑vehicle fatalities nationwide.

“Passengers face the same deadly risks in a crash as the driver,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group. “That’s why Passenger Safety Week matters. Everyone in the vehicle plays a role in preventing tragedy, including the passenger. If you notice unsafe driving, speak up because it could save lives.”

AAA offers these tips for passengers:

• Speak up if the driver is speeding, distracted, or acting unsafely.
• Keep noise and distractions to a minimum.
• Always wear a seat belt.
• Offer to handle navigation or messages.
• Never ride with an impaired or reckless driver.

Parents of teen drivers are encouraged to take extra precautions, as AAA research shows crash fatality rates rise 51% when a teen drives with only teen passengers. Nearly two-thirds of fatalities in crashes involving teen drivers are other teens riding in the vehicle. Woodland says, “Peer passengers increase distractions and encourage risky behavior. A simple conversation can help teens recognize the risks and make safer choices for themselves and their friends.”

AAA recommends that parents set expectations early, limit the number of teen passengers, model safe behavior, practice real scenarios, and give teens a clear way to call for a safe ride if they feel unsafe.

AAA-The Auto Club Group, the second largest AAA club in North America, serves more than 13 million members across 14 states and two territories, offering roadside assistance, insurance, financial services, and travel programs. The organization is part of the national AAA federation, which has more than 65 million members in the U.S. and Canada.