U.S. drivers perhaps should listen to their own criticism.
A survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found drivers overwhelmingly consider drinking and driving, cellphone use, texting, speeding, running of red lights, driving while drowsy and not wearing seatbelts to be dangerous and a serious threat to safety. But many admit committing those violations.
Here’s a quick look at the survey’s results:
–Drinking and driving:
Seventy-six 76 percent of drivers surveyed said those driving after drinking alcohol pose a very serious threat to their personal safety and 97 percent considered it unacceptable. But more than 14 percent admitted to driving when they thought their alcohol level was close to or possibly more than the legal limit at least once in the past year. And of these, 21 percent did so in the past month.
–Cellphone use and texting:
Ninety-four percent of drivers considered texting while driving a serious threat, but 35 percent admitted to reading a text or email while driving in the past 30 days and 26 percent admitted to sending a message while driving in the past month.
Sixty-eight percent said they talked on their cellphone while driving in the past month, and 31 percent said they do that fairly often or regularly.
–Speeding:
Seventy-four percent of drivers said it’s unacceptable for a driver to drive more than 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway, but 52 percent said they’ve done that in the past month.
Ninety-four percent said it’s unacceptable for a driver to drive 15 mph over the speed limit on a residential street, but 26 percent said they had done so within the past 30 days.
–Red lights:
Ninety-four percent said it’s wrong to go through a red light if they could have stopped safely, but 37 percent said they had done so in the past month.
–Drowsy driving:
Ninety-six percent said it’s unacceptable for someone to drive when they are so sleepy they can hardly keep their eyes open, but 32 percent had done it in the past month.
— Seatbelts:
Eighty-six percent said it’s unacceptable to drive without wearing a seatbelt, but 23 percent had done so in the past 30 days and 19 percent had it more than once.
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