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Survey: Some Mass. Drivers Know They Have Bad Driving Habits But Do Them Anyway

BOSTON (CBS) -- Results of a new national survey suggest that Massachusetts drivers are quick to lay the horn on others but are not likely to follow the rules themselves.

The survey, which is part of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety annual nationwide Traffic Safety Culture Index, only included 350 Massachusetts residents. The responses were compared to those of more than 2,500 drivers in other states.

While 95 percent of Massachusetts drivers surveyed agreed that there should be a ban on reading, typing or sending text messages while driving, more than a quarter admitted that they have read or sent a text or email while driving at least once in the past 30 days.

A majority of the Massachusetts drivers surveyed also admitted they are sleepy speeders that have burned through red lights.

The survey found:

  • Sixty-eight percent of local drivers admit they've driven at 15 miles per hour over the speed limit on a highway, while only 46 percent of other drivers say they've done the same.
  • Twenty-nine percent of both local and out of state drivers say they've driven when they were so tired, they had a hard time keeping their eyes open.
  • Forty-five percent of local drivers have blown through a red light when they knew they could have stopped safely. Only 36 percent of drivers in other states have apparently done that.

Since the findings are based on survey results, it's possible drivers in other states may have embellished their responses to make themselves look better.

It's also possible that the Massachusetts drivers under-reported their bad driving habits, which suggests we're even worse drivers than we'd like to admit.

 

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