AAA ON THE ISSUES 2 0 1 7
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Safety on Our Roadways Seat Belt Use Distracted Driving Cell Phone Use Drunk Driving Ignition Interlock Teen Driving Online Driver Education Nighttime Driving Restriction Senior Mobility Transportation Funding Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Automotive Consumerism Contact Information 1 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 6 7 8 Inside Back Cover Back Cover
INTRODUCTION For 115 years, AAA has represented the interests of the motoring and traveling public. Our advocacy efforts are far reaching from supporting safety programs in local communities, schools and senior centers, to advocating on Beacon Hill on behalf of our 2.3 million Massachusetts members. Last fall, we surveyed our members on a wide variety of public policy issues. Those responses, plus the national policies endorsed by all AAA Clubs, help to form our positions on traffic safety, transportation funding, teen driving, senior mobility and child passenger safety issues. Our members have listed their top safety concerns as well as the most common driver distractions they face. We asked them about issues being discussed throughout the country, such as online driver education and the impact of the connected car. We also asked about issues being raised in Massachusetts, such as a primary seat belt bill and a ban on hand-held cell phone use. The responses to our survey follow on these pages. To those who have worked with us over the years to bring about safety advances, we thank you and ask for your continued support. For those new to highway safety issues, we look forward to working with you to improve safety and mobility across the Commonwealth. 1
SAFETY ON OUR ROADWAYS Top three safety concerns as a motorist: Drivers who text, email or use apps while driving Drunk drivers Aggressive drivers Most common distractions affecting drivers today: Texting, emailing or using apps while driving Talking on a mobile device while driving Use of the vehicle s infotainment/entertainment system 2
SEAT BELT USE A primary seat belt law allowing police to cite drivers solely for not wearing seat belts would strengthen the existing secondary law by increasing usage, thereby saving lives and preventing injuries. Support for a primary seat belt law: Strongly support 48% Somewhat support 22% Neutral/No Opinion 11% Somewhat oppose 9% Strongly oppose 10% DISTRACTED DRIVING/CELL PHONE USE Support for a ban on hand-held cell phones so that all mobile conversations by the driver in a vehicle would have to be hands-free: Strongly support 49% Somewhat support 25% Neutral/No Opinion 9% Somewhat oppose 12% Strongly oppose 5% 3
DRUNK DRIVING IGNITION INTERLOCK Support for an ignition interlock law, which would require all drunk driving offenders, including first-time offenders, to breathe into a device that prevents a vehicle from starting if a driver has been drinking: Strongly support 57% Somewhat support 25% Neutral/No Opinion 11% Somewhat oppose 4% Strongly oppose 3% In 1984, Massachusetts became the first state to ban happy hours, due in part to concerns about drunk driving. Support for a continued ban on happy hour in Massachusetts: Strongly support 25% Somewhat support 16% Neutral/No Opinion 20% Somewhat oppose 17% Strongly oppose 22% 4
TEEN DRIVING ONLINE DRIVER EDUCATION Driver licensing laws in Massachusetts require young drivers under 18 junior operators to complete 30 hours of inclassroom instruction, and their parents/legal guardians must complete a two-hour parent workshop as well. Support for the state giving students the option to complete the classroom portion of driver education in an approved online format rather than in a classroom setting: Strongly support 6% Somewhat support 16% Neutral/No Opinion 19% Somewhat oppose 25% Strongly oppose 34% TEEN DRIVING NIGHTTIME DRIVING RESTRICTION Massachusetts Junior Operator Law prevents drivers under 18 from being on the road without a parent between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., to protect them from increased crash risk in the early morning hours. Support for expanding this window to 11:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.: Strongly support 34% Somewhat support 29% Neutral/No Opinion 17% Somewhat oppose 11% Strongly oppose 9% 5
SENIOR MOBILITY Support for a law that would require mandatory re-testing of drivers once they reach a certain age: Strongly support 31% Somewhat support 34% Neutral/No Opinion 21% Somewhat oppose 10% Strongly oppose 4% Of those who support mandatory retesting, they believe re-testing should begin at: Age 39 or younger 5% 40-49 years of age 2% 50-59 years of age 7% 60-69 years of age 21% 70-79 years of age 40% Age 80 or older 22% Not sure 3% 6
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING How would you rate the overall condition of roads, highways and bridges in Massachusetts? Excellent 2% Good 20% Fair 44% Poor 22% Very Poor 6% No response 6% Support for an increase in the Massachusetts gas tax to enhance transportation funding for roads, highways and bridges throughout the Commonwealth: Strongly Support 13% Somewhat support 26% Neutral/No opinion 15% Somewhat oppose 21% Strongly oppose 25% Drivers who favor an increase in the gasoline tax support increases in the following amounts: Two cents 33% Five cents 37% Ten cents 18% Fifteen cents 8% Other amount 4% 7
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING (cont.) The federal gas tax remains the primary funding source for federal transportation system programs, including new roads. Support for primary/alternative funding options: Increasing the federal gas tax 28% Charging drivers a fee based on miles driven, a road usage charge Adding tolls on existing interstates that do not currently charge tolls 20% 14% I do not support any of these funding options 40% No additional funding is needed 12% LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA In November 2016, Massachusetts voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in the Commonwealth. Support for this measure: Strongly support 25% Somewhat support 18% Neutral/No opinion 21% Somewhat oppose 10% Strongly oppose 27% 8
AUTOMOTIVE CONSUMERISM Passenger vehicles are increasingly equipped with technology that allows cars to communicate with networks outside the car. Who should determine whether the data generated by your car should be shared and with whom? Vehicle owner 83% Federal policymakers 19% Vehicle manufacturer 19% State policymakers 18% Dealer where the vehicle was purchased 10% The results of the poll are based on an online survey of a random sample of approximately 800 Massachusetts motorists, both AAA members and nonmembers. Surveys were conducted between December 9, 2016 and January 5, 2017. Learn more: AAA.com/SurveyResults NOTES
CONTACT INFORMATION AAA Northeast 335 Providence Highway Westwood, MA 02090-1907 Mary Maguire Director, Public/Government Affairs (781) 461-0010 (Office) (401) 865-9414 (Cell) mmaguire@aaanortheast.com John Paul Senior Manager, Traffic Safety (401) 868-2000 x.2121 (Office) (781) 558-4600 (Cell) jpaul@aaanortheast.com AAA Pioneer Valley 150 Capital Drive West Springfield, MA 01089 Sandra J. Marsian Vice President, Membership, Travel & Marketing (413) 205-2230 (Office) (413) 427-0788 (Cell) smarsian@aaapv.com