AAA ON THE ISSUES 2 0 1 7
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Safety on Our Roadways Occupant Protection Child Passenger Safety Senior Mobility Teen Driving Motorcycle Helmets Recreational Marijuana Transportation Funding 1 2 3 3-4 5 6-7 8 8 9-10 CONTACT INFORMATION AAA Northeast - Connecticut Headquarters 2276 Whitney Avenue Hamden, CT 06518 Fran Mayko Public Relations Specialist (203) 937-2595 x4615 fmayko@aaanortheast.com
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 and schools, to advocating in the halls of the Connecticut Capitol on behalf of our half-million Connecticut members living in New Haven, Litchfield and Fairfield counties. Late last year, we surveyed AAA members and nonmembers 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. Survey respondents 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, as well as issues being raised in Connecticut mandatory driver re-testing; transportation funding such as tolls; recreational marijuana use; and child passenger safety. The responses to our survey follow on these pages, along with AAA s position. 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 in Connecticut. 1
SAFETY ON OUR ROADWAYS Top three safety concerns as a motorist: People who text and/or email while driving Aggressive drivers Drunk drivers Most common distractions affecting drivers today: Texting and/or emailing while driving Talking on cellphones while driving Using in-car info/entertainment centers while driving 2
OCCUPANT PROTECTION Connecticut s primary seat belt law only requires frontseat passengers and children under 17, who ride in a vehicle s rear seat, to wear seat belts. Support for expanding Connecticut s existing law to cover all passengers riding in all seating positions: Strongly support 50% Somewhat support 22% Neutral/No Opinion 18% Somewhat oppose 5% Strongly oppose 5% AAA supports the proper use of safety belts by all motorists and passengers at all times, in any position in the vehicle, and commends the State Office of Highway Safety and statewide law enforcement for increasing Connecticut s seat belt usage rate in 2016 to an all-time high of 89.4 percent. CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY Current state law requires children younger than one year old AND less than 20 pounds to be in rear-facing child safety seats. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children ride rear-facing until the age of two or until they reach the manufacturer-recommended height and weight limits of the seat. Support for updating the existing law to extend the use of rear-facing seats to two years of age: Strongly support 41% Somewhat support 25% Neutral/No Opinion 25% Somewhat oppose 5% Strongly oppose 3% 3
CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY (cont.) The state s car seat law also requires children to remain in booster seats until they are six years of age and 60 pounds. The AAP recommends that children ride in belt-positioning booster seats until they are 4 9 in height (57 inches) and between eight and 12 years of age. Support for expanding Connecticut s booster seat law to match not only the AAP recommendations, but the law in other states: Strongly support 22% Somewhat support 22% Neutral/No Opinion 32% Somewhat oppose 14% Strongly oppose 9% AAA supports national recommendations that children ride in appropriate rear-facing car seats until they are two years old or until they reach the manufacturer-recommend height/weight limit. Children two years and older, or younger than two who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their car seat, should use a forward-facing seat with a five-point harness for as long as possible, up to the weight or height limit for the seat. AAA also recommends that children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit of their car seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicles lap and shoulder belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 9 in height and are between eight and 12 years of age. 4
SENIOR MOBILITY Currently there is no state requirement for periodic driver re-testing. Support for a law requiring mandatory re-testing of drivers once they reach a certain age: Strongly support 32% Somewhat support 35% Neutral/No Opinion 18% Somewhat oppose 9% Strongly oppose 5% NOTE: Of those who support re-testing, most state age 70-79 as the age for it to begin. AAA opposes the use of chronological age alone as the sole criterion for appraising driver competence or in the selection of drivers for re-examination. Connecticut requires a vision test upon application of an initial driver s license or an additional license endorsement. Support for a law requiring mandatory vision testing of already-licensed drivers. Strongly support 45% Somewhat support 29% Neutral/No Opinion 20% Somewhat oppose 4% Strongly oppose 6% NOTE: Of those who support mandatory vision testing of all drivers, about half believe vision testing should occur every five year. AAA supports required vision testing of all drivers upon license renewal and the re-examination of any driver whose crash and violation records indicate poor driving performance. AAA also supports the use of cognitive impairment screening to refer a driver for further evaluation when needed. 5
TEEN DRIVING Under Connecticut s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law, teen drivers under 17 years of age may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless for school, employment, medical necessity or religious activities. Support for a law that extends the restricted hours from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for drivers under 18 years of age: Strongly support 39% Somewhat support 28% Neutral/No Opinion 14% Somewhat oppose 12% Strongly oppose 7% AAA supports passage of three-tier GDL legislation that establishes relevant and timely restrictions on nighttime driving during early stages of licensure; imposes meaningful sanctions against serious traffic violations, such as alcohol or drug impairment; limits on the number and ages of passengers; and banning the use of all wireless communication and mobile electronic devices until age 18. 6
TEEN DRIVING (cont.) Novice adult drivers over 18 must apply for an adult learner s permit before they can take an on-the-road skills test and practice driving on the road. In Connecticut, there is no minimum requirement as to the number of practice driving hours. Support for a law requiring a minimum number of behindthe-wheel training hours before adult novice drivers can apply for a driver s license: Strongly support 49% Somewhat support 30% Neutral/No Opinion 13% Somewhat oppose 5% Strongly oppose 2% AAA supports legislation mandating supervised behind-thewheel driver training experience before an adult novice driver encounters complex driving situations and environments alone. Driver licensing laws in some states allow students the option to complete driver education in an approved online format, rather than a classroom setting. Support for Connecticut offering such an option: Strongly support 10% Somewhat support 19% Neutral/No Opinion 23% Somewhat oppose 22% Strongly oppose 27% AAA supports legislation that allows states to enhance access to novice driver education by allowing online instruction to be substituted for the traditional classroom portion of the course. 7
MOTORCYCLE HELMETS There is no adult motorcycle helmet law in Connecticut. Only motorcycle operators and passengers under 17 are required to wear protective gear. Support for a state law requiring all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear protective gear: Strongly support 60% Somewhat support 16% Neutral/No Opinion 12% Somewhat oppose 5% Strongly oppose 7% AAA supports legislation requiring all motorcycle and moped drivers and passengers to wear helmets. RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA In 2012, state lawmakers passed legislation allowing people with certain illnesses and a valid registration card to obtain marijuana for medical purposes. In 2016, the law was expanded to include qualifying minors and additional illnesses. In the 2017 General Assembly, several bills are being raised to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Support for legalizing recreational marijuana: Strongly support 25% Somewhat support 18% Neutral/No Opinion 24% Somewhat oppose 10% Strongly oppose 23% AAA opposes measures to legalize the recreational use of marijuana due to the negative traffic safety implications, the impairing effect it can have on drivers, as well as the current challenges in identifying and prosecuting marijuana- 8
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA (cont.) impaired drivers, since there is no reliable scientific method at this time that shows a driver may become impaired at specific levels of marijuana in the blood. While AAA does not dispute the potential therapeutic benefits of marijuana, it does oppose marijuana-impaired driving, just as it opposes alcohol-impaired driving or driving under the influence of other drugs. TRANSPORTATION FUNDING The federal gas tax remains the primary funding source for federal transportation system programs, including new roads, highways and bridges. At its current level, the tax is not sufficient to keep pace with needed improvements in highway infrastructure. State lawmakers continue to investigate various sources of revenue, including tolling. There has been legislative discussion about tolling, but the state currently has no highway tolls. Support for various funding mechanisms: Increase federal gas tax 18% Add tolls on existing interstates that do not currently charge tolls 28% Charge drivers a fee based on the number of miles driven 12% Don t support any of these funding options 39% No additional funding is needed 11% While a toll-free interstate system is preferred, AAA believes tolls and other road-pricing methods may be used with appropriate and necessary consumer protections in place. All transportation funding mechanisms should be evaluated to ensure revenue is being allocated and effectively used for transportation projects that maintain or improve road infrastructure, mobility and safety. 9
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING (cont.) The state s Special Transportation Fund contains gas tax receipts and other transportation-related fees that help finance state transportation infrastructure projects. In recent years, however, these monies have been used to balance the state s budget. As a result, Connecticut faces serious financial challenges in funding a viable statewide transportation infrastructure. There have been legislative calls to establish a lockbox so these funds could only be used for transportation-related purposes. Support for a transportation lockbox proposal: Strongly support 55% Somewhat support 26% Neutral/No Opinion 15% Somewhat oppose 2% Strongly oppose 2% AAA believes that revenues generated from taxes, fees and other pricing mechanisms paid by motorists must be dedicated soley to meeting identified transportation needs and protected from diversions to other uses. Funding alternatives to supplement or eventually replace motor vehicle fuel taxes must be carefully evaluated as to their ability to be efficiently implemented, accepted by the public, allocated fairly, fully dedicated to transportation needs, and resistant to fraud and evasion. The results of the poll are based on an online survey of a random sample of approximately 700 Connecticut motorists, both AAA members and nonmembers. Surveys were conducted online between December 9, 2016 and January 5, 2017. Learn more: AAA.com/SurveyResults