Texas drivers in 2013 were slightly less inclined to report that they had speeded or talked on a cell phone while driving than they were the previous year, according to recent research.

 

In the study, funded by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) surveyed Texans’ attitudes toward speeding, driving while intoxicated, distracted driving and seat belt use in July and August.

 

John Barton, TxDOT’s deputy executive director and chief engineer, underscored the importance of driver safety awareness. “Texas has passed laws and started initiatives to encourage safe driving habits on the road,” Barton said. “However, if the public is not aware of these initiatives and/or does not comprehend the dangers of risky driver behaviors, the laws will not have a lasting impact.”

​“Texas has passed laws and started initiatives to encourage safe driving habits on the road. However, if the public is not aware of these initiatives and/or does not comprehend the dangers of risky driver behaviors, the laws will not have a lasting impact.”—John Barton, deputy executive director and chief engineer, TxDOT

Katie Womack, project director for the Statewide Traffic Safety Awareness Study, said the survey, which has been conducted annually since 2010, is an informational resource about traffic safety awareness in Texas. “It’s important to validate that the traffic safety programs, campaigns and media are hitting the mark,” Womack said. “People are hearing and recognizing the programs, and some have been affected behaviorally. Researchers study crash rates, but this adds to the picture of how people are aware and mindful that these programs are going on.”

 

The goal of the survey is to track, on a yearly basis, changes in Texans’ attitudes and awareness of traffic safety and the consequences involved with violating traffic safety laws. The survey also focused on awareness of traffic safety media campaigns.

 

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