Background Memo  

This study was conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind and co-sponsored by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. The survey was conducted by telephone from April 25 through May 22 using a randomly selected sample of 947 New Jersey residents aged 17 and over who report they drive regularly. The sampling error for 947 randomly selected respondents in a statewide survey is +/-3 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. All interviews were conducted by professionally trained interviewers using a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system.  Random selection >is obtained through computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a land-line phone number an equal chance of being selected, including those with unlisted numbers. Results may be weighted to match known demographics. A complete questionnaire, all tables, and descriptive narrative can be found in the document: 2007 Survey of Driver Attitudes and Behavior: Summary of Findings.

Question: How would you rate your own driving skills compared to most other drivers on the road? Would you say that your skills are…[READ]?

• Above average
• Just average
• Below average

Question: How often do you wear your seatbelt…READ?

• Always
• Most of the time
• Just sometimes
• Never

Question:  How often would you say you drive over 65 miles an hour on the turnpike or interstate highway… READ?

• Most of the time
• Often
• Just once in a while
• Never

Question:  The posted speed limit is 65 on most highways in New Jersey, but what would you say is the actual speed limit—the speed at which you can go on a New Jersey highway without getting a speeding ticket?

Question: When it comes to enforcing speed limits, do you think the police should enforce the limits more strictly than they do, or not?

Question: What do you think are your chances of being in a life threatening car crash at some point…[READ]?

• Very likely
• Somewhat likely
• Not likely
• Very unlikely

Question: Thinking about drivers from the states around you… which state would you say has the worst drivers…[READ: ROTATE]?

• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Connecticut
• Maryland
• Delaware

Question: By the way, to the best of your knowledge, are drivers in New Jersey actually required by law to stop for people in a crosswalk or is it not a legal requirement?

Question:  Now let me ask about driving and cell phones. How often do you personally drive your car and at the same time hold your cell phone and talk into it…READ?

• Very often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

Question:  Currently, police in New Jersey cannot stop and ticket a driver just for driving and talking on a hand-held cell phone. Do you support or oppose changing the law so police can stop and ticket a driver just for using a hand-held phone while driving?

Question: Some people have proposed that cameras should be used to enforce speed limits and red lights. The cameras would take photographs of drivers who speed or run lights and a ticket would be mailed to the car owner's home.  The ticket would carry a fine--but no points.  Do you support or oppose using cameras for this purpose?

Question: In the past three years have you personally…[Read/Rotate List]

• …been involved in any kind of a crash?
• …received a speeding ticket?
• …driven after drinking alcohol?
• …driven while drowsy?
• …made a rude gesture at another driver?

Question:  Finally, just give me your best estimate… about how many people in New Jersey are killed in car crashes each year?

Question: [Ask married and living as married only] How do you rate your spouse's driving skills…?

• Above average
• Just average
• Below average

Question:  And would you say your spouse is a better or worse driver than you?

• Better
• About the Same
• Worse

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results