September 20, 2010—The 2010 Traffic Safety Culture Index release_notesd on Monday by AAA says 52 percent of drivers feel less safe on the roads than five years ago because of drivers who text and email while behind the wheel.
Eighty-eight percent of drivers rank drivers who text or email as a “very serious” threat to their safety. AAA noted that more drivers now consider texting and emailing as more dangerous to their safety than drunken driving.
"Unlike the social stigma surrounding drinking and driving, driving while texting, emailing or talking on the phone aren't perceived as egregious behaviors despite overwhelming scientific evidence of the serious crash risk these behaviors pose," said Peter Kissinger, AAA Foundation president and CEO. "This year's Traffic Safety Culture Index helps identify crucial disconnects between public perceptions and behaviors, an important step in helping the public understand the true risks of their actions."
AAA Foundation and AAA are holding the second annual Heads Up Driving Week, from Sept. 26-Oct. 2, encouraging drivers to drive distraction-free.
