New study proves: Your driving stinks

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Bad drivingA comprehensive new survey indicates that the majority of American drivers routinely engage in practices they know are unsafe.

 

 

The survey, “U.S. Driver Behavior Study, National Data, August 2012,” was commissioned by Ford Motor Company and performed by the market research firm of Penn Schoen Berland. In May of this year, researchers conducted 2,506 interviews of American drivers over 18 years of age who hold valid driver licenses.

According to Billy Mann, the research firm’s managing director, the survey group size was “extremely rigorous,” reflecting a representative cross-section of the U.S. driving public with a margin of error of less than two percent. Here’s what they found:

+   76 percent of the drivers say they eat or drink while driving.

+   55 percent drive over the posted speed limits.

+   53 percent talk on a hand-held cell phone.

+   83 percent drive when they know they are too tired, or “know someone” who has.

+   46 percent have fallen asleep at the wheel, or “know someone” who has.

Now here’s the amazing stat. Despite all the above:

+   99 percent of the respondents still identify themselves as “safe drivers.”

Oh, really.

Ford is using this data to develop and market its driver assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and lane-keeping aids, blind spot indicators, and radar and camera-based collision warning systems. Ford is offering a banquet of these high-tech features on its 2013 Fusion, a first for cars in its class.

And to its great and everlasting credit, Ford is not marketing these systems as safety features, even though they will undoubtedly spare us from untold death and injury. Ford spokespeople are adamant that these are simply “convenience” features. Which is the truth.

As advanced and as impressive as these technologies are, the fact is they’re a lousy substitute for engaged, attentive drivers who are fully in control of their vehicles. If anything,  these driver assist features serve to enable our lazy, distracted driving habits—which, if this survey is any indication, aren’t getting any better.

Once again, we have met the enemy and he is us. Safe driving starts with the driver.

 

 

8 thoughts on “New study proves: Your driving stinks”

  1. “If anything, these driver assist features serve to enable our lazy, distracted driving habits.”

    Agreed. I’d actually prefer fully self-driving cars over driver aids for those who are incapable, or don’t enjoy driving, or who can’t be bothered to pay attention. And that technology is quickly approaching, I think it’s largely the legal issues that need to be resolved at this point.

    For the rest of us, don’t subtly help my lane-keeping abilities, otherwise I’ll think I’m doing a great job when I’m not. I’d prefer warnings for bad behavior, not aids.

    I’m certainly not against all these technologies – adaptive cruise control is probably great for a weary foot on a long trip. And collision warnings to protect me from the other crazies on the road, thumbs up. I, too, am impressed with Ford’s marketing here, because that one could conceivably be pushed as a safety feature.

  2. I’ve seen numerous studies that show no definite correlation between simply driving over posted speed limits and increased number of accidents. At least I think I have. Well, hopefully I have.

  3. How does the fact that I “know someone” that has done something wrong make me a less safe driver?
    I know someone that murdered 4 people, will that affect my driving performance too?
    You want statistics? In Australia the death rate in accidents has been declining at the same time that mobile phone use has risen. So therefore statistically the use of mobile phones has made the roads safer.

    • In this survey, “knowing someone” with a behavior is a euphemism or beard for having the behavior oneself. Rather like telling a psychologist you “know someone” who is a kleptomaniac. The survey was specifically written to evoke such responses.

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