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 17 through May 26 using a randomly selected sample of 1,004 New Jersey residents aged 17 and over who report they drive regularly. The sampling error for 1,004 randomly selected respondents 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 will be issued in the document: 2008 Survey of Driver Attitudes and Behavior: Summary of Findings.

In the past three years have you personally, sent a text message while driving?

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 ... ?

• Very Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

How often do you see people driving a car while holding a cell phone and talking....?

• Very Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

Do you think that driving and talking on a hand-held phone is more or less dangerous than driving and using a hands-free phone?

Now, let me ask. How often do you personally drive your car and at the same time talk into a hands-free cell phone?

• Very Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

To the best of your knowledge, can police stop and ticket drivers just for talking on a hand-held phone?

Police in New Jersey can now stop and ticket drivers just for talking on a hand-held phone. Do you support or oppose this law?

In the past three years have you personally, made a rude gesture at another driver?

When you're driving on a New Jersey highway, how often would you say you drive over 65 miles an hour?

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

[Excluding those who "Never" drive over 65]: And how often would you say that you drive over 70 miles an hour?

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

[Excluding those who "Never" drive over 70 And how often would you say that you drive over 75 miles an hour?

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

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?

In the past three years have you personally, received a speeding ticket?

Some towns will be using cameras to help enforce stopping at red lights. Do you support or oppose towns using cameras to catch red-light runners?

And what about using cameras to help enforce speed limits.  Do you support or oppose towns using cameras to catch speeders?

Thinking about drivers from the states around us. which state would you say has the worst drivers...?

How would you rate your own driving skills compared to most other drivers on the road? Would you say that your skills are ...

• Above Average'
• Just Average
• Below Average

Only Married Respondents]: How would you rate your spouse's driving skills?

• Above Average'
• Just Average
• Below Average

Only Married Respondents]: And would you say your spouse is a better or a worse driver than you?

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results