Attitudes to road safety Alun Humphrey Research Director National Centre for Social Research

Attitudes to Road Safety Alun Humphrey Presentation to Road Safety GB National Conference Chester, 15 th November 2011 Findings and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the DfT

Background Survey commissioned by Department for Transport Understanding the views and behaviour of the population as a whole Differences between sub-groups Interaction between attitudes and behaviour Provide baseline measure for future tracking Proposals for changes to speed limits

Agenda Methodology Views about harshness of penalties Driving styles and risky behaviours Drink driving Speeding

The NatCen Omnibus Random Probability sampling Representative sample of adults aged 16+ in Great Britain Fieldwork conducted February/March ,538 CAPI /CASI interviews conducted (response rate of 55%) Questionnaire covered Travel behaviour Driving style Views about road safety Driving experiences Restraint use Speed Drink driving Accidents

Perceptions of causes of accidents Base: All respondents (1,534). Respondents could give up to 3 answers

Views about police enforcement Base: All respondents (varies between 1,434 and 1,517) 7 7 4

Views about harshness of penalties Base: All respondents (varies between 1,401 and 1,496) 5

Driving styles Base: All who had driven in last 12 months (1,057 or 1,058)

Prevalence of ‘risky’ behaviours Base: All who had driven in last 12 months (1, ,058), ‘Not worn a seat belt’: all travelled as passenger in last 12 months (1,181)

Prevalence of risky behaviours at least ‘once or twice’ in last 12 months by age Base: All who had driven in last 12 months 224 (16 to 34), 207 (35 to 44), 223 (45 to 54), 207 (55 to 64), 197 (65 or above); (As passenger: 292 (16 to 34), 196 (35 to 44), 217 (45 to 54), 207 (55 to 64), 269 (65 or over))

Base: All who had driven in last 12 months 224 (16 to 34), 207 (35 to 44), 223 (45 to 54), 207 (55 to 64), 197 (65 or above) Prevalence of risky behaviours at least ‘once or twice’ in last 12 months by age

Risky behaviours undertaken by those considering themselves ‘law abiding drivers’ Base: All who consider themselves law-abiding drivers (943); (As passenger: 721)

Attitudes to drink driving Base: All respondents (1,481 – 1,488)

Attitudes to speeding Base: All respondents (1,482 – 1,489)

Frequency of exceeding speed limit Base: All who had driven in last 12 months (1,037)

Reasons for exceeding speed limit Base: All who had exceeded speed limit (915 – 30mph; 722 – 60 mph)

How far above limit usually go Base: All who had exceeded speed limit (918 – 30mph; 721 – 60 mph)

Key findings In general people think enforcement/penalties too low/lenient Most consider themselves safe, law abiding… …and most recognise dangers of speeding Yet most exceed the speed limit

More info safety natcen-2010-survey