Majority of people support a range of impaired driving countermeasures that could significantly reduce fatalities, according to a new AAA survey. Photo courtesy Freepik

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - With impaired driving still a persistent, and deadly, threat on American roads, a majority of people support a range of impaired driving countermeasures that could significantly reduce fatalities, according to a new AAA survey.

The annual AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index (TSCI) examines changes in driving patterns and concerns people have about driving in general. The results from last year’s study highlight a clear pattern: most Americans want stronger safeguards that prevent impaired driving, including advanced vehicle technologies and stronger legal standards even though some drivers admitted to taking dangerous risks themselves. 

The study found strong public support for tougher measures to address impaired driving. Nearly two-thirds of respondents, 67 percent, said they support requiring all new vehicles to be equipped with alcohol impairment prevention technology. A slim majority, 51 percent, also favor lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration limit from 0.08 to 0.05.

While many participants acknowledged that impaired driving was unacceptable, some admitted to doing so anyway. That follows other AAA research that found a recent rise in other unsafe behaviors like speeding, distracted driving and even road rage.

An overwhelming 93 percent said driving after drinking is very or extremely dangerous, yet 7 percent admitted they had done so within the past 30 days. Similarly, 70 percent of respondents said driving within an hour of using marijuana is very or extremely dangerous, but 6 percent reported engaging in that behavior anyway.

“The reality is impaired driving has negatively impacted everyone in some way,” AAA Mountain West Group Spokesperson Doug Johnson said. “While it’s encouraging to see widespread support for new safety measures, there’s no replacement for a common sense approach to  saying no to drinking and driving.”

The survey also found that risky behavior persists in several other areas, particularly distracted and aggressive driving. When it comes to distraction, an overwhelming majority of respondents acknowledged the danger. Nearly all participants said scrolling through social media on a hand-held phone is extremely or very dangerous, while 94 percent said the same about texting or emailing and 90 percent about reading on a hand-held device. Despite this widespread awareness, many drivers admitted to engaging in these behaviors anyway. About 28 percent said they texted while driving, 37 percent reported reading messages, and 36 percent said they talked on a hand-held phone behind the wheel.

Public opinion on enforcement measures was more divided. While 79 percent of respondents supported a ban on hand-held phone use while driving, support dropped sharply when it came to hands-free use, with only 40 percent favoring limits on those systems.

The survey also highlighted concerns around aggressive driving and speeding. Nine in 10 respondents viewed aggressive driving as extremely or very dangerous, and 80 percent said the same about running red lights. Speeding, however, was perceived as less dangerous than other risky behaviors, even though it remains a major contributor to crashes. Although 58 percent of drivers believed they would be caught if they drove 15 miles per hour over the speed limit, about half admitted they had done so within the past month. Support for automated enforcement was limited as well, with only 46 percent backing the use of speed cameras on residential streets.

For more information on survey methodology, data considerations, and results refer to the full Traffic Safety Culture Index report. Visit newsroom.aaa.com/asset/2024-traffic-safety-culture-index-technical-report/. 

AAA Mountain West Group is a membership and full-service leisure travel organization, proudly serving over 6.8 million Members across Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Northern California, Montana, and Utah. AAA delivers unmatched expertise and value through roadside assistance and electric vehicle (EV) resources, along with comprehensive auto repair, travel, insurance, financial, and home security services. Powered by 5,300 dedicated Team Members, AAA is on a mission to revolutionize solutions that help our Members.