I.11Tc1ER.S Eagleton nstitute PoIitcs New Bruriswck Ne s Jersey : C[Lic 4ar-ICbgCr/EAGLETON POLL

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1 Other newspapers may also use this information in their Sunday and back-ground memo will appear in Sunday s Star-Ledger. A story based on the survey findings presented in this release RELEASE INFORMATION RELEASE: SL/EP19-6 (EP69-6) OR BOB CARTER FOR RELEASE: SUNDAY, JULY 3, 1988 CONTACT: CLIFF ZIJKIN C[Lic 4ar-ICbgCr/EAGLETON POLL A I.11Tc1ER.S Eagleton nstitute PoIitcs New Bruriswck Ne s Jersey : fl-4e 51A1 UNftEPSATY OF NPN JERT (Rutgers Feature Phone) Audio is available after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, from: (201) ATTENTION RADIO STATIONS: -more- very serious problem in New Jersey. the same number as two years ago. Six-in-ten residents say drunk driving is a having been a passenger in a car operated by a drinking driver in the last year, percent just over two years ago. Another 13 percent of New Jerseyans report behind the wheel on at least one occasion in the last 12 months- -down from 11 Statewide, 5 percent report having had an alcoholic drink while they were drivers now say they usually travel above the speed limit on these roadways. mile per hour speed limit on state highways and toll roads. Almost half of all The survey also finds public sentiment favoring a modest increase in the 55 six years ago. more people now characterizing Garden State motorists as rude or aggressive than with alcohol while on the road, the latest Scar-LedgerJEagleton Poll also finds there has been a decrease in the number of drivers who report mixing gasoline There s mixed news for New Jersey motorists this holiday weekend. While PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR RAISING THE SPEED LIMIT NEW JERSEY DRIVERS: DRINKING DOWN; AGGRESSIVENESS UP copyrighted information to the Star-Ledger/Eagleton PolL Saturday, July 2. We ask users to properly attribute this editions. Electronic media may release after 5:00 p.m.

2 The majority of New Jerseyans say they would like to see the speed limit acceptable for people to drink while on the road. by drinking drivers. It s an indication that it is becoming less socially encouraging in that they reflect a heightened awareness of the problems caused Cliff Zukin, director of the poll, commented, The new figures are -more- laws is not surprising when viewed in the context of the state s recent growth. Zukin said, The increase in reports of rude driving and bending of the increase of just under 10 percentage points from speed up rather than hitting the brakes when traffic lights turn yellow, an expressing no opinion. Two-thirds of state residents report that most drivers of 60 to 35 percent who think most drivers stretch the rules, with the remainder said they strictly obey traffic laws. The current survey reveals a wider margin try to bend the rules of the road and get away with whatever they can than In 1982, by a margin of 55 to 41 percent, more New Jerseyans said drivers describe motorists as generally safe as think drivers are careless. figures reveal a dead heat at 47 percent each. Also, about equal numbers as courteous rather than rude by a margin of 52 to 41 percent. The 1988 while on the road. In 1982, more state residents des-ribed Garden State drivers The survey picks up a change for the worse in N Jerseyans manners per hour above the posted limit. who report speeding are most likely to say they generally travel 5 to 7 miles limit and another 9 percent reporting they drive below the maximum speed. Those non-rush hour times, with 40 percent saying they usually drive at the speed they usually drive above the speed limit on state toll roads and highways during limits of 55, 60, 65 or 70 miles per hour. Just under half--47 percent--say out to a modest increase to 60 miles per hour when given a choice between speed raised on the State s toll roads and highways. Citizens preferences average EP69-6 (SL/EP19-6) Page 2

3 but remains dramatically up since usage was mandated by law. Just under half- - with. Motorists use of seat belts has remained stable over the past two years, attitude among New Jersey drivers, many of whom were fairly aggressive to begin Greater congestion has led to a hurried, mote pressured and confrontational Copyright: July 3, 1988, The Eagleton Institute and ewark Star-Ledger -30- subject to a sampling error of percent. adults who were interviewed by telephone. Figures for the total sample are The latest survey was conducted between May 18 and 26 with 800 New Jersey 34 percent in 1984 to a high point of about 67 percent in both 1986 and wear a safety belt all or most of the time has risen from 18 percent in 1982 to 47 percent- -say they always wear their safety belt. The proportion saying they Ep69-6 (SL/EP19-6) Page 3

4 somewhat greater sampling error. Sampling error is the probable interval. Percentages based on smaller subsets of the sample have 800 have a sampling error of ±35 percent at a 95 percent confidence 1988, when a random sample of 800 New Jerseyans ages 18 years and older The latest Star-LedEer/Eagleton Poll was conducted between May 18 and 26, was interviewed by telephone. Figures presented for the total sample of BACKGROUND KENO--RET..EASE SL/EP19-6 (EP69-6 ). SUNDAY. JULY 3, 1988 ILJ1Z 1ER.S Eaglelon Institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey / THE STATE UNtvWSJTY cc NEW JEPV February (600) May % 30% 7% 3% 101% (800) serious serious serious know Total Very Somewhat Not too Don t serious, somewhat serious, or not too serious? How serious a problem do you think drunk driving is in New Jersey- -very September Il (467) August (803) February (600) May % 20% 14% 10% 9% 1% 101% (800) Always the time Sometimes a while Never know Total.fril Most of Once in Don t time, sometimes, only once in a while, or never? When driving in a car how often do you wear safety belts--always, most of the in any study of public opinion. The questions and figures referred to in error does not take into account other possible sources of error inherent this release are as follows: interviewing a scientific sample taken from that population. Sampling difference in results between interviewing everyone in a population and (![ttt tat-tlcbce/eagleton POLL (

5 February (587) May % 10% 85% 100% (752) last 12 mo, in last 12 mo. No Total* (n)* Yes, and in Yes, but not time in the last 12 months? occasionally drink while in their cars. Have you ever had a beer or other alcoholic beverage while you were driving? IF YES: Have you done this at any While very few New Jerseyans drive while they are drunk, many tell us they (267) (326) r (190) By Age --female (398) - -male (400) By Sex 1986 Total 11% 13% 76% 100% (598) May % 13% 83% 101% (798) driver passenger No Total in). Yes, as the Yes, as a the last 12 months? Have you been a passenger in a car where the driver was drinking at any time in * Those saying they do not drive have been excluded from the respondent base. September 1982: (130) August 1984: (187) February 1986: (170) May 1988: % 79% 101% (186) September (467) August (772) May % 85% 100% (752) Yes o Total in). / / (235) (186) (319) February % 79% 100% (587) By Age --male (392) (360) - -female By Sex EP69-6 (SL/EP19-6) -2-

6 October (503) Kay % 47% 5% 99% (799) Courteous Rude Don t Know Total jj rude? In general, would you describe most drivers in New Jersey as courteous or October (503) May % 26% 6% 99% (799) Speed Up Stop Don t Know Total do most of them stop? When a traffic signal turns yellow, do most drivers speed up to get through or October (503) May % 60% 5% 100% (799) Obey Bend Don t Know Total Liii and get away with whatever they can? Do most drivers obey the rules of the road, or do they try to bend the rules October (503) Kay % 44% 9% 4% 100% (799) Safe Careless (vol.) Know Total jjul safe Don t Most careless? Do you think drivers in New Jersey are generally safe, or are many of them EP69-6 (SL/EP19-6) -3- ( (

7 Opinion Total jj MPH UNDER No AVC. (vol) be for each of the following. highways and toll roads. Please tell me what you think the speed limit should There has been some discussion lately about changing the speed limit of state Speeders 8% 26% 10% 3% 47% (368) ThanS 5to7 StolO More Total 2). Less 11 or Those saying above were asked: About how many miles per hour above? 1988 Total 40% 47% 9% 4% 100% (751) At Limit Above Below Depenr; Total j) (Drivers Only) generally drive right at the speed limit, usually above it, or below it? When driving on state toll roads and highways at non-rush hour times, do you Highways (799) 58 Other State Parkway (799) 59 The Garden State Turnpike 3% 34% 27% 31% 4% 1% 100% (799) 60 The New Jersey EP69-6 (SL/EP19-6) -4-

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