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Related links
NHTSA: Buy a Safer Car
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NHTSA: Crash Statistics
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
National Crash Analysis Center
National Safety Council: Driving
Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign
Contact your local representative
Highlights
of Findings
A
Survey of the Attitudes of the American People
on Highway & Auto Safety
A
Public Opinion Poll conducted by Louis Harris for
Advocates
for Highway and Auto Safety
September 2001
Advocates
for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), an alliance of consumer,
health, safety and insurance groups working together to advance
highway and auto safety, recently sought to determine how Americans
feel about specific highway and auto safety issues, policies and
programs. To do so, Advocates commissioned a well-known national
pollster, Louis Harris, to survey a cross-section of 1,001 adults
in July 2001. This is the fourth poll Harris has conducted for Advocates.
A
variety of high priority problems in highway and auto safety were
probed. Some questions extended trend lines from previously asked
questions in 1996, 1998 and 1999, while others explored new areas
such as red light cameras, SUV rollovers and safety regulations
for Mexican trucks crossing the southern border into the United
States. The survey was conducted in conjunction with the release
of Advocates' 2001 "Stuck in Neutral" report, which outlines
specific legislative and regulatory recommendations for reducing
deaths and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Some
of the key findings of the public opinion survey are:
Strong
Mandate for Federal Role in Highway and Auto Safety
By convincing majorities, the public strongly supports the federal
government setting uniform safety standards as opposed to delegating
such power to each individual state.
90% of Americans support a
strong federal role in establishing highway and auto safety standards.
As in preceding polls, the percent of those who feel federal involvement
is "very important" is greatest among women, minorities
and adults over the age of 30.
Public
Favors Increased Federal Spending on Highway and Auto Safety
Knowing that more than 100 people are killed on U.S. highways
each day, Americans are in favor of boosting federal spending
on highway and auto safety. A record high 83% of the public, compared
to 77% in 1999, now believe the budget for highway and auto safety
should be increased.
Americans
Support "Penny at the Pump" to Increase Spending
An 82% to 16% majority would be willing to dedicate one cent of
the current 18.4 cents per gallon gas tax to support additional
funding for highway and safety programs.
Majority
Requests Uniform Government Safety Ratings
Safety is a major factor considered by the American public when
purchasing an automobile. In fact, 73% research safety performance
ratings before purchasing a vehicle and, if given a choice, 78%
would pay more money for a vehicle with improved safety systems.
Not surprisingly, an even higher 84% would favor government safety
ratings posted on the window sticker of all vehicles offered for
sale in the United States.
Overwhelming
Support for Youth Highway Safety Issues
Motor
vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among Americans aged
1-34 years old and the number one killer of American teenagers.
Additionally, more than 500 children between the ages of four and
eight are killed in motor vehicle crashes and another 100,000 injured.
With this in mind, the poll found strong support for strengthening
child restraint and graduated licensing laws.
Public
Favors Booster Seat Legislation
The majority of state child restraint laws only require children
up to the ages of three or four to use a child restraint seat
while riding in a car. Therefore those older than this age group
who do not yet fit safely into an adult seat belt are put in danger.
Only seven states have passed booster seat laws to address this
problem. By a margin of 79% to 17%, the public favors extending
state child restraint laws so that children between the ages of
four and eight years of age will be required to use a booster
seat while riding in a car. Currently, only one child in 10 between
the ages of four and eight is properly restrained in a booster
seat while riding in a motor vehicle. State laws will help to
significantly increase booster seat use.
Majority
Supports Strict Teen Driving Laws
By large majorities, the public wants enforced restrictions placed
on young drivers before and initially after they receive their
licenses. There is nearly unanimous support (95%) for teenage
drivers to complete at least 30 to 50 hours of practice driving
with an adult. An equally large majority of Americans (92%) believe
that teens should be required to hold a learner's permit for a
minimum of six months before given the opportunity to receive
a full license. In addition, a three to one majority (74% to 23%)
supports limiting the number of teen passengers in the car with
a teen driver and unsupervised driving during high-risk periods,
such as nighttime.
Strong
Demand for Improved Intersection Safety
The
U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that approximately 40%
of motor vehicle crashes occur at intersections or are "intersection-related."
As evident in past Louis Harris polls, Americans still recognize
the inherent danger of intersections and feel very strongly about
the importance of intersection safety.
Public
Favors Intersection Improvements
A solid 78% of the public wants more attention paid to improving
intersection safety. Since this question was originally asked
in 1999, the percentage of respondents in the "highly concerned"
group has risen significantly from 31% to 43% of Americans.
Majority
Supports Red Light Cameras
Despite heated debates across the nation, the use of red light
cameras as a law enforcement supplement is still favored by well
over a 2-to-1 majority of the public. This number directly corresponds
with 73% of Americans wanting more attention paid to reducing
red light running.
Americans
Concerned About Speeding
Another issue that is relevant to intersection safety is speeding.
There is growing public concern about the dangers of driving too
fast while speed limits have increased across the nation. 77%
of Americans want more attention focused on the problem of speeding,
especially in neighborhoods.
Broad
Support for Rollover Standard
The
SUV market is the fastest-growing segment of new vehicle sales.
However, recent media focus has drawn the public's attention to
rollover concerns. Crashes involving vehicle rollover result in
more than 10,000 deaths and over 200,000 injuries each year. As
these statistics have increased, so has the public's attention with
more than 71% of Americans saying they are concerned about the dangers
of rollovers in vehicles. There is currently no federal rollover
safety standard but 85% of Americans believe one is necessary.
Widespread
Approval for Cell Phone Limits
Although
an estimated two out of every three adults owns a cell phone, 83%
of the public wants more attention paid to the dangers of cell phone
use by drivers. In addition, the public favors legislation that
would restrict the use of cell phones while driving (76% to 22%).
And, 90% of Americans believe that police officers should indicate
on crash reports whether a driver was using a cell phone.
Growing
Concern About Mexican Truck Safety Standards
The
U.S. border is scheduled to be opened in January 2002 for unrestricted
travel throughout the U.S. by Mexican trucks. Furthermore, the trucks
will be allowed to operate for up to 18 months before undergoing
a comprehensive safety inspection. A nearly unanimous 94% of the
American people oppose such access without the proper safety inspections.
The issue is causing widespread anxiety among the American people
with the vast majority (88%) of those polled expressing concern
that safety standards will be lowered.
Strong Support for State Motorcycle Helmet Laws
At
a time when many state legislatures are considering repeals or rollbacks
of all-rider helmet laws, an overwhelming 81% of the public favors
state laws requiring the use of helmets by motorcyclists. Motorcycle
helmets have been shown to save lives and prevent serious brain
injuries.
For a complete report on the Louis Harris Poll Results, go to the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Website. |
148 ( 36 +24.32% )