Contact: Maridith Geuder
About 80 percent of Americans drive a motor vehicle daily. Most of them fear an automobile wreck more than they fear being a crime victim.
In a recently completed national survey by Mississippi State University's Social Science Research Center, more than 1,500 Americans were asked about a wide range of highway safety issues. Seat belt usage, speed limits and measures to prevent drinking and driving were among the topics.
A separate survey of Mississippi residents identified driving behaviors and attitudes in the Magnolia State, the national leader in the rate of highway-related death.
"Both state and national surveys provide useful data to policymakers about trends and issues," said MSU research scientist Ronald W. Snow, a specialist in highway safety issues. Snow, who coordinated both surveys, said the studies are ongoing as a public service.
More than half of those surveyed nationally by MSU feel traffic today is moving too fast. Many identified driving as a primary fear, ranking it above fear of being robbed, having a car stolen or being a victim of violent crime.
The MSU research team, which is making its findings available to police departments, legislators, driver education specialists, highway planning agencies, and others, soon will be soliciting topics for future surveys from state highway safety departments.
"We want to help document public attitudes and provide data that will be useful in making driving a safer experience," Snow said.
Highway safety is a significant issue in Mississippi, which reported more than 4,000 highway deaths 1994-98.
MSU research fellow James W. Landrum, a collaborator with Snow on the state survey, said highway fatalities "are a big tragedy" in Mississippi.
"Nearly 1,000 Mississippi young people under 21 were killed in traffic accidents during the four-year period," Landrum said. "Somehow, we don't grasp that this is the biggest killer of our young people."
Considering the dangers of driving, the two surveys identified several policies the public would support to improve traffic safety. Among others, they include:
--Support for state legislators to require that all convicted drinking drivers automatically lose their driver's license for a year. (Mississippi, 72 percent; national, 68 percent)
--Support for surprise roadblocks to test drivers for drinking and driving. (Mississippi, 79 percent; national, 70 percent)
--Support for requirements that convicted drinking drivers attend programs telling the dangers of drinking and driving. (Mississippi, 95 percent: national, 92 percent)
About half of the Mississippians surveyed and slightly more than half of those surveyed nationally support raising the driving age from 16 to 18.
Also in Mississippi, some 92 percent of those surveyed favor requiring that all motor vehicle drivers have liability insurance. Ninety percent favor legal action against adults who drive with unrestrained child passengers.