The 2009 Traffic Safety Culture Index Survey was conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety to investigate the public's traffic safety knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and experiences. The survey was a random telephone sample of over 2,500 U.S. residents ages 16 and older, conducted between April and May 2009. The results showed that a majority of drivers do not feel safer than five years ago, with distracted driving such as cell phone use being a major reason cited. Texting or emailing and talking on a cell phone were rated as serious threats to safety by most respondents. However, many drivers admitted to behaviors like talking or texting on their cell phone while driving.

1. 2009 Traffic Safety Culture Index Survey

3. 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit

4. Research affiliate of AAA/CAA

6. Foster research that seeks solutions

9. Surveys conducted by Abt SRBI Inc

11. To create a baseline measure of traffic safety culture in the U.S.

12. To continue monitoring America’s traffic safety culture over time through surveys

13. To guide traffic safety research and education

15. Sample included landline and cell phone

16. Interviews conducted in English and Spanish

17. Conducted April 15, 2009 – May 12, 2009

18. Interviewed 2,501 U.S. residents ages 16+

19. Statistics weighted to be representative of U.S. population

22. Distracted driving was major reason cited by those who felt less safe now than 5 years ago

23. Drivers agree that using a cell phone while driving is a threat to safetyNote: Results presented here are only a small subset of all information that can and will be gleaned from the 2009 Traffic Safety Culture Index throughout the year.

25. Of those who felt less safe, 31% cited distracted driving as the reason

26. 87% of respondents rated texting or emailing as a very serious threat, second only to drinking while driving (90%)

28. 28% who admitted to this said they did so fairly often or regularly

29. 95% of drivers saying texting while driving was completely or somewhat unacceptable

32. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) public charity located in Washington, DC that is dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries. It is supported by donations from AAA/CAA Clubs, AAA/CAA members, and other organizations associated with AAA/CAA.

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