AAA Florida

AAA has announced the winners of the 2024 Car Guide, with electric vehicles dominating the rankings. Megan McKernan, the Automotive Research Center manager at AAA, highlighted the popularity of SUVs among consumers, stating, “SUVs are a popular choice since they are a great option for families and offer loads of additional compartments for storage.”The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV emerged as the overall top scorer, best large SUV, and best car over $60k. McKernan praised the Mercedes-Benz for its comfortable ride, quiet cabin, and excellent headlight coverage....

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 28, 2024)—After an early spring surge, the national average for a gallon of gas spent the past week drifting up and down by a fraction of a cent before settling a penny higher at $3.53. But the break may be temporary, as gas pump prices will likely resume a spring increase."Uncertainty of the impact of Ukraine’s targeting of Russia’s oil infrastructure likely spiked oil prices recently," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "But those concerns have abated somewhat for now, and gas prices are settling into a pattern similar to last year when the...

Five hotels and one restaurant have recently been added to AAA's prestigious Four Diamonds list, signifying excellence in cleanliness, comfort, cuisine, and consistency. Among the new additions are the Paradox Hotel and the AZUR Legacy Collection Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as well as the Luminary Hotel & Co. in Fort Myers, Florida. Additionally, the Aguascalientes Marriott Hotel in Mexico and the Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico have also earned the Four Diamond designation.Mixtli, a restaurant in San Antonio, Texas, has also...

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2024)—The national average for a gallon of gas rose 11 cents since last week to $3.52. While domestic gas demand has been lackluster, rising oil prices helped push pump prices higher. The Midwest may see a bit of a price reprieve, as the large BP Whiting refinery in Indiana is back up and running after being down since February 1st."Gas prices are a lot like seasonal temperatures. They start to rise with the arrival of spring," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "And the national average for gas is now higher than a year ago, which we have...

WASHINGTON, DC (March 18, 2024) – Even though many eclipse enthusiasts have had April 8, 2024 marked on their calendars for years, there are some people who are just now deciding they want to experience this natural phenomenon in person. If this is you, it’s not too late.According to AAA booking data, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio are the most popular cities along the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse on April 8, 2024. Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Buffalo are also top eclipse-viewing destinations, with Dallas experiencing a significant increase in reservations...

ORLANDO, Fla. (Mar. 14, 2024) – AAA's latest survey reveals that a significant portion of U.S. drivers harbor apprehension towards fully self-driving vehicles, with 66% expressing fear and 25% feeling uncertain. This sentiment has remained consistent, indicating a persistent unease within the public despite advancements in autonomous technologies.The survey also highlights a contrasting trend, as interest in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) remains robust among consumers. AAA found that a majority of U.S. drivers are keen on features like Reverse Automatic...

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 14, 2024)—The national average for a gallon of gas has been rising leisurely since last week, moving a mere two cents higher to $3.41. However, with the cost of oil crossing the $80 per barrel mark and gas demand popping with warmer temps and better weather, change may be coming to the pump. Another critical factor is the arrival of more expensive summer blend gas, which tends to increase pump prices by 10 to 15 cents."This is the time of year we normally see pump prices start to rise," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "And while prices have...

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 7, 2024)—Pump prices have maintained a steady march higher, rising eight cents since last week to $3.39. More expensive oil is a likely culprit, as crude accounts for nearly 60% of pump prices. The cost for a barrel of oil is edging closer to $80, about $10 more per barrel than a few months ago."Spring is nearly here, with longer days, better weather, and more opportunities to hit the road," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "And we are seeing this reflected in rising gasoline demand. But remember, we see this trend every year."For the...

A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has shed light on the dangers of drowsy driving, revealing that the impact of this behavior is greatly underestimated. The research points to sleep loss as a significant factor in drowsy driving crashes, with the upcoming Daylight Saving Time potentially exacerbating the issue.According to the AAA Foundation's study, drowsy driving is responsible for far more traffic fatalities than official government statistics indicate. The study, based on crash investigations and national fatal crash data, estimates that drowsy...

WASHINGTON, DC (February 29, 2024) – Drivers saw gas prices creep up the final week of February. The national average for a gallon of gas is $3.31 on this leap day, 4 cents higher than it was one week ago. The upward trend is likely to continue as travelers start heading out of town for Spring Break."We’re entering Spring Break season, and historically, March and April bring higher gas prices as demand rises," said Aixa Diaz, AAA spokesperson. "With milder temperatures come more road trips, and this time of year tends to be a precursor to the summer driving season."For...

Durango Casino & Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, Planet Hollywood Cancun in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Hotel and Spa Mansion Solis in Morelia, Michoacan, and Manta in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur have been recognized by AAA as Four Diamond properties. According to AAA, these properties offer upscale amenities, remarkable service, and outstanding dining options.Diamond Inspectors from AAA conduct unannounced, independent, in-person property inspections to ensure quality and consistency in the hospitality industry. AAA's commitment to quality is reflected in the 4 Cs of AAA...

AAA Travel's Senior Vice President, Paula Twidale, stated, "Orlando is the top choice for Spring Break travelers, while Fort Lauderdale and Miami are the two most popular domestic cruise ports." She emphasized that many travelers are seeking warm weather, pools, beaches, and outdoor adventures during this time of year, making Florida an ideal destination. Additionally, Twidale noted the significant increase in cruise bookings for March and April, with a 28% overall increase and a 60% increase for cruises departing from South Florida.According to AAA Travel data,...

AAA Trip Canvas, AAA Travel’s digital travel planning tool, has introduced a new campgrounds category in partnership with RoverPass, a leading platform in booking campgrounds and RV parks. The collaboration aims to enhance the camping and RV travel experience for users by providing detailed information about camping destinations and amenities.“AAA Trip Canvas was designed with our members in mind, and we’re thrilled to now offer camping destinations,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel.The integration with RoverPass allows Trip Canvas users to...

ORLANDO, Fla., (Feb. 22, 2024) – AAA has announced the appointment of Gene Boehm as the President and CEO Designate for AAA, Inc., effective April 1. In his new role, Boehm will be leading the national team that supports the federation of AAA clubs and its over 57 million members in the United States."I am honored that the AAA Board and selection committee have entrusted me with the incredible responsibility of leading the gold standard of brands," said Boehm. "Marshall leaves an impressive legacy for his dedication to AAA’s mission serving members, and I am committed to...

Gas prices in the United States have experienced a sudden surge, with the national average for pump prices increasing by 12 cents in just one week. This rise comes after months of relatively stable prices, prompting concerns among consumers. One of the primary factors contributing to this sudden increase is the shutdown of the BP-Whiting refinery in Indiana. The refinery, which processes 435,000 barrels of crude oil per day, has been offline for over two weeks due to a power outage. As a result, prices in the Midwest region have skyrocketed, subsequently pushing the...

Recent research conducted by AAA examined the performance of reverse automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in four popular 2023 model-year vehicles equipped with rear cross-traffic mitigation. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of these systems in preventing collisions while backing out of a parking space and encountering a stationary child pedestrian.In the backing-up scenarios, the reverse AEB systems automatically applied brakes in 65% of test runs and prevented a collision in 2.5% of test runs when a subject vehicle crossed behind the test vehicle. When a...

A new study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety sheds light on the alarming dangers faced by roadside assistance providers who risk their lives daily to help others. The study reveals that the number of fatal crashes involving these workers may be significantly higher than previously reported.According to the study, 123 roadside assistance providers were killed by passing vehicles between 2015 and 2021, a figure that dwarfs the approximate 34 noted in national crash data. This discrepancy is attributed to the failure of state police crash report forms to...