Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

70% of Summer Motorists Worry About Road Conditions

A new AAA survey reveals drivers’ frustrations over both traffic congestion and a crumbling infrastructure.

by Staff
May 17, 2016
70% of Summer Motorists Worry About Road Conditions

Photo of crumbling road courtesy of AAA.

2 min to read


Photo of crumbling road courtesy of AAA.

About 70% of drivers traveling this summer are concerned about poor road conditions or traffic congestion, according to a new survey from AAA.

The survey revealed that 56% of U.S. consumers will be hitting the road for a summer vacation, but only one in five thinks the roads are in great driving condition.

Ad Loading...

Some top concerns for drivers planning a road trip this summer are too much traffic congestion (48% of drivers) and unsafe roads and bridges (36% of drivers).

“Bad roads and traffic gridlock can make summer travel unpleasant and costly for U.S. drivers,” said Jill Ingrassia, AAA managing director of government relations and traffic safety advocacy. “This survey shows that drivers are frustrated with the condition of our roads and bridges.”

Over the past five years, AAA found that damaged roads have resulted in $15 billion in vehicle repairs, or approximately $3 billion annually. What’s more, according to the 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard, traffic delays have kept drivers on the road for nearly 7 billion extra hours and caused them to waste more than 3 billion gallons of fuel.

“Americans rely on our nation’s roads and bridges every day and it is important that they are safe,” Ingrassia said. “Last year Congress made great strides by passing a five-year transportation bill, but an estimated $170 billion per year in additional funding is still needed to significantly improve America’s crumbling roads and bridges.”

AAA completed a telephone survey of two national probability samples (landline only and cell phone). The total sample size consisted of 1,006 adults living in the continental U.S. Interviewing for the survey was conducted April 28-May 1 of this year. This study has an average statistical error of ±3.1% at the 95% confidence level for all U.S. adults, AAA said.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Rental Operations

Richard Lowden gesturing on stage in front of a red curtain at the Gaylord Texan Resort near Dallas.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueJune 12, 2026

Rethink The Future To Avert A Race To The Bottom

Rental car operators heard a sobering industry message and a stern challenge at the close of the International Car Rental Show.

Read More →
John Possumato holding microphone while asking a question during a live conference session at the ICRS Show.

DriveItAway, Free2move Plan Shared Fleet Program for Independent Rental Fleet Operators

Vehicles would be placed with participating rental operations to support car renter demand and provide additional fleet capacity.

Read More →
Close-up of a Jeep Wrangler front grille and headlight with text noting Stellantis’ recall of 1.3 million Jeep vehicles worldwide over a potential fire risk tied to power steering wiring.
Fleet Acquisitionby StaffJune 10, 2026

Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk

Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Franchisee standing with yellow U-Save branded sign in front of the rental car outlet.

Green Motion And U-Save Open Rental Operations In Guatemala

The brands will open their first rental car outlets in the country at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.

Read More →
An airplane parked at a gate next to large headline and bullet points about study highlights.

U.S. Business Travel Drives $623 Billion+ in Economic Impact as Spending Reaches $538 Billion

The data also underscores the industry’s strong multiplier effect across the U.S. economy, revealing that each dollar invested in business travel in 2024 generated $1.16 in GDP.

Read More →
Green and black bar graphs show May 2025 v. 2026 fleet vehicle sales into commercial, rental, and government fleet sectors.
Fleet Acquisitionby Martin RomjueJune 3, 2026

Rental Fleet Sales Skating Just Above 2025 Levels

The U.S. economy's continued growth and positive business investment are creating a favorable environment for fleet vehicle demand.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Interviewer Martin Romjue and guest Ryan Kerzner on both sides of a title page with large lettering.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueJune 3, 2026

Grow Your Rental Business Beyond Cars

Rental fleet operations are facing numerous evolving challenges and opportunities from AI technology to rate and revenue management, to customer service and business growth.

Read More →
An AI-imaging tunnel instantly scans a car for damages at Wenn's location in Lithuania.
Rental OperationsJune 2, 2026

Using AI to Create Clarity, Not Conflict, in Rental Car Damage

Rental companies still need people, policy, judgment, and thoughtful implementation, with operators remaining in control of the customer experience.

Read More →
Close up of a high-tech vehicle console with a remote key.
Rental OperationsJune 1, 2026

Get Ready To Roll: No Stopping Self-Driving Rental Cars

The autonomous mobility technology revolution will move at its own pace, but sooner rather than later.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two execs hold up a sign with Southwest and CarTrawler logos

Southwest Airlines Selects CarTrawler For Its Car Rental Booking Platform

The platform is designed to allow customers to compare and book rental vehicles more easily during the travel booking process.

Read More →
Ad Loading...