The Texas

Traffic Safety Culture

Survey



Center for Transportation Safety

November 2010



 Summary

For decades, traffic safety improvements have relied primarily upon engineering and enforcement solutions. A
growing number of safety professionals and policy makers have concluded that if we are limited to those
options in the future, further improvements will be incremental at best. Truly meaningful advancements in
safety will depend largely on changing the way we think about driving – changing our traffic safety culture. To
provide a baseline for future measurements toward such change, the Center for Transportation Safety at the
Texas Transportation Institute conducted a survey to determine Texas drivers’ attitudes toward safety
conditions and laws. A brief sample of findings shows that:
 Although roadway deaths have steadily declined in recent years, more than a third of Texas drivers think
the roadways are less safe than they were five years ago. Only about one out of five feel safer.
 More than four out of five respondents believe that texting while driving (85 percent) and cell phone use
(81 percent) have become bigger problems than they were five years ago.
 Well over half say aggressive driving is worse, and nearly half say the same thing about driver courtesy.
 Texans generally feel safer on the roads than drivers nationwide, as measured in the 2010 Traffic Safety
Culture Index published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. In that survey, 52 percent of drivers
nationwide said they feel less safe, while the number in Texas is 34 percent.
 Supporters of a law to ban cell phone use while driving outnumber opponents by a two-to-one margin.
 Supporters of red light cameras outnumber opponents by 48 percent to 36 percent.
 Supporters also outnumber opponents on measures to deter impaired driving, favoring sobriety
checkpoints, and requiring the use of ignition interlock devices for drivers with DWI convictions.
 Survey participants were generally opposed to raising the state’s gasoline tax to pay for new roads or to
make the roads safer.
The Texas Traffic Safety Culture Survey was conducted at ten driver license stations operated by the Texas
Department of Public Safety in the following cities in September and October 2010.
Austin Amarillo Beaumont
Bryan Dallas El Paso
Houston Lubbock McAllen
San Angelo
Results from the sample of 1,167 licensed drivers represent a cross-section of the opinions of the adult driving
population in Texas. CTS researchers plan to repeat the survey each year and publish its findings as part of the
Center’s Legislative direction to “foster public awareness of the importance of roadway safety to the economy
of this state.”



2





Overall,
do
you
think
driving
feels
safer,
less
safe,
or
about


 the
same
as
it
did
5
years
ago?



45%


 39%

40%
 35%

35%



30%


 25%

19%

20%


 15%

10%
 7%



5%


 0%

Safer
 Less
Safe
 About
the
Same
 Not
Sure






Overall,
do
you
think
vehicles
sold
in
the
U.S.
are
safer
or
less

safe
than
they
were
5
years
ago?



60%
 54%



50%



40%


 30%
 26%



 20%
 14%


 10%
 6%



 0%

Safer
 Less
Safe
 About
the
Same
 Not
Sure





 Overall,
do
you
think
the
condi>on
of
roads
you
travel
on

most
is
be?er
or
worse
than
5
years
ago?



45%

39%


 40%
 36%

35%


 30%

25%
 21%



20%


 15%

10%


 4%

5%

0%



Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
Same
 Not
Sure


3





In
your
area,
is
there
more
or
less
road
construc>on
than
5


 years
ago?

70%


 60%

60%


 50%



 40%

30%


 20%

20%
 14%


 6%

10%


 0%

More
 Less
 About
the
Same
 Not
Sure






In
general,
are
the
areas
under
construc>on
safer
or
less
safe

than
5
years
ago?



45%
 40%


 40%

35%
 31%



30%


 25%

19%

20%


 15%

9%

10%



5%


 0%

Safer
 Less
Safe
 About
the
Same
 Not
Sure





 In
your
area,
do
you
think
traffic
conges>on
has
go?en
be?er

or
worse
than
5
years
ago?



60%
 57%



50%


 40%



 30%
 25%



 20%
 14%



 10%
 5%


0%



Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
Same
 Not
Sure


4





Overall,
do
you
think
enforcement
of
traffic
viola>ons
in
your


 area
is
greater
or
less
than
5
years
ago?

50%


 43%

45%

40%
 38%


 35%

30%


 25%

20%


 15%
 9%
 10%

10%


 5%

0%


 Greater
 Less
Enforcement
 About
the
Same
 Not
Sure

Enforcement






Overall,
do
you
think
enforcement
by
using
cameras
in
your

area
is
greater
or
less
than
5
years
ago?



50%
 45%


 45%

40%


 35%

30%

23%
 21%


 25%

20%


 15%
 11%

10%


 5%

0%


 Greater
 Less
Enforcement
 About
the
Same
 Not
Sure

Enforcement





 Do
you
think
the
percent
of
traffic
>ckets
dismissed
by
a

judge
or
court
in
your
area
is
greater
or
less
than
5
years
ago?



60%


 49%

50%


 40%



 30%
 25%



 20%
 14%

11%


 10%


0%



Greater
 Less
 About
the
Same
 Not
Sure


5





Do
you
think
the
DWI/DUI
problem
is
be?er
or
worse
in
your


 area
than
5
years
ago?

40%
 36%


 34%

35%

30%



25%


 20%
 15%

15%
 13%


 10%

5%
 2%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem






Do
you
think
the
aggressive
driving
problem
is
be?er
or

worse
in
your
area
than
5
years
ago?



70%

60%


 60%

50%



40%

28%


 30%

20%


 8%

10%
 1%
 2%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem





 Do
you
think
the
problem
of
cell
phone
use
while
driving
is

be?er
or
worse
in
your
area
than
5
years
ago?



90%
 81%


 80%

70%


 60%

50%


 40%

30%


 20%
 11%

10%
 5%
 1%
 1%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem


6





Do
you
think
speeding
is
be?er
or
worse
in
your
area
than
5


 years
ago?

45%
 42%
 41%


 40%

35%


 30%

25%


 20%

15%
 12%


 10%

5%
 2%
 2%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem






Do
you
think
seat
belt
use
is
be?er
or
worse
in
your
area
than

5
years
ago?



60%


 49%

50%


 40%

30%

30%



20%
 13%


 10%
 6%

2%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem





 Do
you
think
teen
drivers
are
be?er
or
worse
in
your
area

than
5
years
ago?


 43%

45%


 40%

35%


 30%
 25%

25%

18%


 20%

15%
 10%


 10%

3%

5%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem


7





Do
you
think
elderly
drivers
are
be?er
or
worse
in
your
area


 than
5
years
ago?

50%
 45%


 45%

40%


 35%
 30%

30%


 25%

20%

15%
 10%
 10%


 10%
 4%

5%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem






Do
you
think
tex>ng
while
driving
is
be?er
or
worse
in
your

area
than
5
years
ago?



90%
 85%


 80%

70%


 60%

50%


 40%

30%


 20%

4%
 8%

10%
 1%
 2%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem





 Do
you
think
running
red
lights
is
be?er
or
worse
in
your
area

than
5
years
ago?



45%
 41%


 40%

35%
 30%


 30%

25%
 19%


 20%

15%

10%
 7%



5%
 2%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem


8





Do
you
think
the
problem
of
children
not
riding
in
car
seats
is


 be?er
or
worse
in
your
area
than
5
years
ago?

35%
 31%
 30%



30%


 25%

19%

20%
 17%


 15%

10%



5%
 3%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem






Do
you
think
driver
courtesy
is
be?er
or
worse
in
your
area

than
5
years
ago?



45%
 41%


 40%
 34%

35%


 30%

25%

19%


 20%

15%


 10%

2%
 3%

5%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem





 Do
you
think
problems
with
giving
the
right‐of‐way
are
be?er

or
worse
in
your
area
than
5
years
ago?



60%


 48%

50%



 40%

30%
 24%


 20%

20%


 10%
 4%
 3%


 0%

Be<er
 Worse
 About
the
 Do
not
 Not
sure


 same
 consider
a

problem


9





Compared
to
5
years
ago,
how
oJen
do
you
ride
a
bicycle
for


 transporta>on?

50%
 47%


 45%

40%


 35%

30%


 25%
 21%

20%
 15%


 15%
 12%

10%
 5%


 5%

0%


 More
OJen
 Less
OJen
 About
the
 Have
not
done
 Not
sure

same
 in
5
years






Compared
to
5
years
ago,
how
oJen
do
you
walk
for

transporta>on?



35%
 32%


 30%

26%


 25%

19%
 19%

20%



15%


 10%

4%

5%



0%


 More
OJen
 Less
OJen
 About
the
 Have
not
done
 Not
sure

same
 in
5
years





 Compared
to
5
years
ago,
how
oJen
do
you
ride
a
motorcycle

for
transporta>on?



70%

61%


 60%

50%



40%


 30%



 20%
 12%

8%
 10%
 9%

10%



0%


 More
OJen
 Less
OJen
 About
the
 Have
not
done
 Not
sure

same
 in
5
years


10





Compared
to
5
years
ago,
how
oJen
do
you
drive
slower
to


 save
on
fuel?

40%
 36%


 35%



 30%
 26%

25%


 20%
 16%

15%
 12%
 10%



10%


 5%

0%


 More
OJen
 Less
OJen
 About
the
 Have
not
done
 Not
sure

same
 in
5
years






Compared
to
5
years
ago,
how
oJen
do
you
shop
on‐line
to

save
transporta>on
costs?



35%
 31%


 30%

25%


 25%
 22%

20%


 13%

15%


 10%
 8%


5%



0%


 More
OJen
 Less
OJen
 About
the
 Have
not
done
 Not
sure

same
 in
5
years





 Compared
to
5
years
ago,
how
oJen
do
you
do
other
fuel‐
saving
measures?



45%
 42%


 40%

35%


 30%

25%


 19%
 18%
 19%

20%

15%


 10%

3%

5%



0%


 More
OJen
 Less
OJen
 About
the
 Have
not
done
 Not
sure

same
 in
5
years


11





Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opposed
to
adding
10
cents
per
gallon


 tax
on
gasoline
to
pay
for
new
road
construc>on?

40%


 33%
 34%

35%



 30%

25%
 20%


 20%

15%


 8%

10%

5%


 5%

0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose






Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opp0sed
to
adding
10
cents
per
gallon

tax
on
gasoline
to
pay
for
repairing
dangerous
roads?



35%


 30%

30%

23%
 25%


 25%

20%


 15%

15%


 10%
 7%

5%



0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose





 Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opposed
to
using
cameras
to
>cket

drivers
on
freeways?



35%


 28%
 29%

30%

25%


 20%

20%


 14%

15%

10%
 8%



5%



0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose


12





Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opposed
to
using
cameras
to
>cket


 drivers
on
residen>al
streets?

30%
 26%


 25%

25%


 19%
 19%

20%


 15%

10%


 10%


5%



0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose






Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opposed
to
using
cameras
to
>cket

drivers
who
run
red
lights?



35%


 29%

30%



 25%

19%
 20%

20%
 16%
 16%



15%


 10%

5%



0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose





 Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opposed
to
raising
the
minimum
age
for

geNng
a
driver
license
to
18?



30%
 27%


 25%
 22%


 19%
 18%

20%

15%


 15%


10%



5%



0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose


13





Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opposed
to
a
law
against
any
type
of


 cell
phone
use
while
driving?

35%


 30%

30%


 25%
 22%
 21%

20%
 17%



15%

9%


 10%



 5%

0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose






Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opposed
to
sobriety
checkpoints?


 30%

24%
 25%


 25%


20%
 19%
 18%




14%

15%



10%



5%



0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose





 Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opposed
to
requiring
all
drivers

convicted
of
DWI
to
use
a
device
to
keep
their
car
from


 star>ng
if
they
have
been
drinking
?



 45%

38%

40%


 35%

30%

25%
 23%
 21%



20%


 15%
 9%
 8%

10%


 5%

0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose


14





Are
you
in
favor
of
or
opposed
to
requiring
all
motorcyclists


 to
wear
helmets?

50%
 46%


 45%

40%


 35%

30%


 23%

25%
 19%

20%


 15%

10%
 6%
 5%


 5%

0%


 Strongly
Favor
 Favor
 Neutral
 Oppose
 Strongly

Oppose






Age
of
Survey
Respondents


 0.35


0.3



0.25



0.2



0.15


 0.1



 0.05



 0

18‐21
 22‐30
 31‐45
 46‐65
 Over
65






Race/Ethnicity
of
Survey
Respondents


 3%
 3%




White


 Black

46%
 Hispanic


 34%

Asian



Other



14%




15





Gender
of
Survey
Respondents


Male

48%
 Female

52%


What
type
of
vehicle
do
you
drive
most
oJen?

3%
 2%
 3%

2%

3%
 None

Passenger
Car

Pickup

21%

SUV

Van

47%

Motorcycle

Other

19%

MulWple


16