Stressful, Hectic Lifestyle May Lead to Risky, Unsafe Driving
29 March 1999
Stressful, Hectic Lifestyle May Lead to Risky, Unsafe Driving, According to EPIC-MRA Study Most Michigan Drivers Rate Themselves as Cautious
LANSING, Mich., March 29 -- While nearly three-quarters of
Michigan motorists consider themselves cautious drivers, a new survey
indicates a busy and hectic lifestyle is adversely affecting driving habits.
The survey identified an emerging group whose driving habits may need
assistance: working mothers.
At the same time, the survey reinforced what statistics have said for
years: that young, male drivers are far more risky drivers than the general
population.
Crash statistics still bear out that young drivers, especially young
males, are 0 in traffic crashes. The 16-24 age group represents 15.5 percent
of the state's driving population, yet drivers in this group were involved in
22.6 percent of all crashes and in 20 percent of all fatal crashes in 1997. A
significantly higher proportion of crashes involved male drivers than female
drivers. And, fatal crashes were twice as prevalent among male drivers than
female drivers.
The survey identifies what appears to be a new traffic safety issue,
directly related to today's stress-filled lifestyle. In general, college-
educated women age 30-45 admit more frequently to speeding, running late and
changing lanes improperly than drivers as a whole. Most in this group are
full-time, working mothers. On the positive side, this group was more likely
than any other to insist that passengers buckle up.
The survey, conducted last month by EPIC-MRA on behalf of the Michigan
State Safety Commission (MSSC), asked people about specific driving behaviors
and attention to the road to determine if current traffic safety efforts were
on target.
"This comes down to a lifestyle issue," said Col. Michael D. Robinson,
director of the Michigan State Police and MSSC chair. "Working parents often
juggle schedules of work, day care, doctor appointments and after-school
activities. This is an opportune time to remind everyone that traffic crashes
are the leading cause of death for children, so it's imperative that we drive
with caution, especially when our children may be affected.
"The Commission will further explore and analyze this information, and see
what we can do to communicate the importance of safe and courteous driving to
everyone," he said.
The Commission praised the nearly 4.6 million Michigan motorists who
overall give themselves high marks for their driving (based on the number of
licensed drivers).
Added Robinson, "We need to remind ourselves that the majority of drivers
are trying to do a good job on the road. But, even cautious and conscientious
drivers make mistakes from time to time."
All motorists' driving skills could use a tune-up in specific areas,
Robinson added. Frequently, motorists admitted to:
-- Running a yellow light when they could have stopped;
-- Driving at least five miles an hour over the speed limit;
-- Changing lanes without signaling; and
-- Passing cars using the right lane because drivers were going too
slowly in the left lane.
The Commission will also look at ways to step up reminder messages to
motorists in these "trouble spots."
On the good news front, motorists also said they frequently:
-- Insisted that a passenger use their seat belt;
-- Moved to the left lane or slowed down to let traffic easily merge;
-- Planned plenty of time to get where they were going; and
-- Offered a gesture of apology to another driver when they made a
mistake.
Over half of the people surveyed rated themselves as an above-average
driver (61 percent) and 37 percent rated themselves as an average driver.
The Michigan State Safety Commission was legislatively established in 1941
to promote greater traffic safety on public roadways. Statutory membership
includes the director of the Michigan Department of Education, director of the
Michigan State Police, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation,
director of the Michigan Department of Community Health, and the Secretary of
State. The director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning serves
as the executive secretariat.
The EPIC-MRA survey queried 600 Michigan residents by phone. This
represented:
Age information Education
4% 18-24 years 8% 1st to 11th grade
5% 25-29 years 29% High school graduate
6% 30-35 years 4% Non-college post high school
9% 36-40 years 24% Some college
20% 41-49 years 23% College graduate
12% 50-55 years 12% Post graduate school
26% 65 and over
2% Don't know/refused
Race Household income
89% White 5% Under $15,000
9% African American 15% $15,000 to $30,000
1% Other 12% $30,000 to $45,000
1% Don't know/refused 16% $45,000 to $60,000
9% $60,000 to $75,000
Sex 8% $75,000 to $100,000
46% Male 7% Over $100,000
54% Female 9% Retired
19% Don't know/refused
Michigan traffic safety facts:
-- The state has 6.9 million licensed drivers (Michigan Department of
State).
-- Traffic crashes remain the leading cause of death for infants,
children and young adults in Michigan (Michigan Department of
Community Health).
-- An average four people die each day in the state due to traffic
crashes (Michigan State Police).
-- Traffic crashes claim more lives in Michigan each year than homicides
(Michigan State Police).
-- Most fatal crashes occur on dry roadways and in clear weather
conditions (Michigan State Police).
-- Michigan's safety belt use rate is 70 percent, but only half of
drivers and passengers killed in 1997 were not wearing safety belts
(Michigan State Police).
-- 89.2 billion highway miles were traveled in Michigan in 1997 (Michigan
Department of Transportation).
