October 23, 2000
Results of the September WestTrack poll show:
DUI and Running Red Lights are Considered Serious City Driving Problems by Four of Five Arizonans
|
Serious |
Somewhat |
Minor Problem |
Not A Typical Problem |
Not Sure/ No Answer |
|||||
| Drivers who run red or yellow lights | 84% | 9% | 5% | 1% | 1% | ||||
| People who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol | 80 | 13 | 5 | * | 2 | ||||
| Speeding | 63 | 25 | 9 | 2 | 1 | ||||
| Drivers who change lanes often | 47 | 24 | 20 | 8 | 1 | ||||
| Road construction | 32 | 31 | 25 | 10 | 2 | ||||
| Bicyclists and pedestrians | 23 | 20 | 30 | 24 | 3 | ||||
|
* = Less than one percent |
|||||||||
Contending with drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol (84%), and motorists who run yellow and red lights (80%) are both considered serious problems by four of five Arizona residents participating in a poll relating to concerns about driving in metropolitan areas of Arizona. Both issues were considered at least a somewhat serious problem by 93% of the participants.
In the research, conducted by WestGroup Research of Phoenix, 402 adult residents of Arizona were asked to specify to what degree they felt each of the following six factors were problems when driving on the state's city streets.
Age
The likelihood to believe drivers running traffic lights is a serious
problem increases with a resident's age. Approximately nine of ten (91%)
respondents aged 50 or older felt this was serious problem, compared to
eight of ten aged 30 to 49 (80%) and seven of ten aged 29 or younger (69%).
Older residents were also more likely to feel drivers operating vehicles under the influence of drugs or alcohol represent a serious problem on city roadways (50 or older-89%, 30 to 49-73%, 29 or younger-65%).
Speeding
Speeding was considered a serious problem by more than three of five residents
(63%). Nearly nine of ten (88%) study participants considered speeding
to be at least a somewhat serious problem. Again, the older a resident
was, the more likely they were to consider speeding to be a serious problem
(50 or older-76%, 30 to 49-55%, 29 or younger-36%). However, a minimum
of four of five respondents in each age group felt speeding was at least
a somewhat serious problem.
Road Construction
Nearly one of three (32%) respondents felt road construction was a serious
problem, and nearly two of three (63%) felt it was at least a somewhat
serious problem. Residents of Phoenix and Tucson were more likely to cite
this factor as a serious problem than were residents of rural Arizona
(35% to 22%).
Lane Changers
Drivers who change lanes often were viewed as a serious problem by nearly
half of those surveyed. Residents aged 50 and older were twice as likely
as those 49 or younger to feel the issue was a serious one (63% to 31%).
Half (51%) of the respondents aged 29 or younger saw this factor as a
minor issue or not a typical problem. Women (54%) were somewhat more likely
than men (40%) to consider drivers who change lanes often to be a serious
problem within the city limits.
Bicyclists & Pedestrians
Bicyclists and pedestrians were seen as serious traffic hazards in metropolitan
Arizona by nearly one of four (23%) residents. Residents who may be forced
to walk or ride a bicycle because of income limitations were more prone
to see the issue as a serious problem. Respondents with incomes of less
than $25,000 were twice as likely to view this factor as serious problem
than were those with incomes of $55,000 or more (30% to 14%).
View the verbatim question used in this poll.
NEXT TOPIC >>
Buying on the Internet: A Positive Experience
