More Than One-Third Say Traffic Congestion is a Serious Problem in Their Community
 |
Over half of those in the Western Region of the United States say traffic is a serious problem
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 22 -- Unfortunately, traffic congestion and their accompanying delays are a fact of life in many communities and for many U.S. adults. Just over one-third (37%) say that traffic congestion is a serious problem in their community, while one-quarter say traffic congestion is a serious problem that is not being addressed. 12 percent say it is a serious problem that is being addressed. Just under two in five (39%) say traffic is a moderate problem and 21 percent say it is not a problem at all.
This is definitely a case of region playing a role. Just one-quarter (26%) of those who live in the Midwest and 32 percent of those in the South say traffic congestion is a serious problem. In the East, over one-third (37%) say traffic congestion is a serious problem. Compare this to the West where over half (56%) believe traffic congestion is a serious problem.
These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,337 U.S. adults conducted online between January 11 and 18, 2007 by Harris Interactive(R).
Would the United States Accept A Congestion Tax?
Recently, the city of London introduced its controversial "congestion tax" as a way to help reduce traffic levels and all that accompanies it, many people around the world watched to see if the public would accept the policy. While it seems to be going smoothly in London, U.S. adults do not appear to be as ready to embrace such a congestion tax in their cities.
When it comes to imposing a congestion tax in U.S. cities, two-thirds (66%) of adults oppose such a tax with half (51%) saying they strongly oppose it. Just 22 percent say they support it. Even among those who say traffic in their community is a serious problem most would not support such a tax. Only three in ten (29%) of those who say traffic is a serious problem support a congestion tax while 61 percent oppose it. This may be an issue of the importance of cars to Americans and the lack of good public transportation in many U.S. cities, not just a case of not wanting to pay another tax.
,b>Home Purchases Can Lead to Reduced Energy Costs
Harris Interactive also asked people if they would be willing to pay a higher price for a new house that would reduce energy use and could also reduce their monthly heating and cooling bills. Seven in ten U.S. adults say they would be willing to pay more for such a house and only 19 percent said they would not be willing. However, people were not asked how much more they would be willing to pay.
Other findings in this Harris Poll include:
-- Over two in five (44%) of those who use public transportation to get to
work say traffic congestion is a serious and unaddressed problem in
their community while less than one-quarter (23%) of those who drive
themselves share this sentiment. This may reflect the greater use of
public transportation in larger cities;
-- Just over half (55%) of adults drive themselves to work while only 4
percent each take public transportation, walk or are part of a carpool;
-- Those in the East are more likely to drive themselves to work (58%) and
are also more likely to take public transportation (8%), while seven
percent of those in the West say they are part of a carpool.
-- Six in ten (61%) of U.S. adults say they are concerned about global
warming while 35 percent are not concerned. There is a gender
difference on this issue as two-thirds of women (67%) say they are
concerned while just 55 percent of men say they are concerned about
global warming;
-- When it comes to spending more for a home that would reduce energy
costs, Baby Boomers and Echo Boomers are slightly more likely than
other generations (73% and 72% respectively) to say they would be
willing to do this.
TABLE 1
TRAFFIC CONGESTION
"In your opinion, how serious a problem is traffic congestion in your
community?"
Base: All adults
Total Region How get to work
Use Public Bike
Mid- Drive Car- Trans- or
East west South West self pool portation Walk
% % % % % % % % %
SERIOUS PROBLEM
(NET) 37 36 26 32 56 36 37 55 33
A serious problem
and it is not
being addressed 25 28 16 19 39 23 30 44 22
A serious problem,
but it is being
addressed 12 9 10 13 17 13 7 11 11
A moderate problem 39 42 43 41 29 44 26 36 34
Not a problem 21 20 27 23 12 18 37 9 21
Not sure 3 2 4 4 3 1 - * 11
Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
"-" No response
*Less Than 0.5%
TABLE 2
SUPPORT FOR CONGESTION TAX
"Some cities, such as London, currently use a congestion tax to help reduce traffic congestion. All drivers that travel within the boundaries pay a daily
charge to enter the zone. Would you support or oppose U.S. cities imposing
such a tax?"
Base: All adults
Total Traffic in their community
Serious problem Moderate or not
a problem
% % %
Support (NET) 22 29 19
Strongly support 5 8 3
Somewhat support 17 22 15
Oppose (NET) 66 61 71
Somewhat oppose 16 15 17
Strongly oppose 51 46 55
Not sure 12 10 10
Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 3
SPENDING MORE TO REDUCE ENERGY COSTS
"Would you be willing to pay a higher price for a new house or condo that
would reduce energy use and could reduce your monthly heating and cooling
bills?"
Base: All adults
Total Generation
Echo Gen Baby Matures
Boomers Xers Boomers (62 and
(18-30) (31-42) (43-61) over)
% % % % %
WILLING (NET) 70 72 66 73 69
Definitely would be
willing 23 21 24 24 22
Probably would be willing 47 50 42 50 46
NOT WILLING (NET) 19 14 21 19 21
Probably would not be
willing 12 12 13 11 14
Definitely would not be
willing 7 3 7 8 7
Not sure 11 14 14 8 10
Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 4
CONCERN OVER GLOBAL WARMING "How concerned are you with the long-term effects of global warming or global
climate change?"
Base: All adults
Total Gender
Men Women
% % %
Concerned (NET) 61 55 67
Very concerned 36 34 37
Somewhat concerned 25 21 29
Not concerned (NET) 35 42 29
A little concerned 19 19 18
Not at all concerned 16 23 10
Not sure 4 3 5
Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 5
COMMUTING METHODS
"How do you typically get to work?"
Base: All adults
Total Region
East Midwest South West
% % % % %
PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL TO WORK (NET) 70 76 70 67 69
Drive self 55 58 57 55 48
Take Public Transportation 4 8 2 3 5
Walk 4 5 4 4 3
Drive, but as part of a carpool 4 3 3 2 7
Bike ride 1 1 * 1 *
Other 3 2 4 2 5
Do not work 28 22 29 32 29
Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
*Less Than 0.5%
Methodology
This Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between January 11 and 18, 2007, among 2,337 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.
With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.
With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,337 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- two percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
J29494 Q905, 910, 915, 920, 925 The Harris Poll (R)#16, February 22, 2007 By Regina Corso, Director, The Harris Poll