Form FHWA 1578 FHWA 1578 NETI Rural Safety Survey

NETI Safety Survey, February 2008

NETI Rural Safety Survey

February, 2008

Introduction

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Hello! Thank you for taking the time to participate in this New England Transportation Institute research study. This survey asks questions about travel patterns in rural areas of the Northeast, with a particular emphasis on factors that might affect highway safety.

Your answers and opinions will be of great value in understanding needs of households like yours and in planning improvements that address those needs. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential and will NOT be associated with you in any way. This survey is being conducted by an independent market research firm.

Screening questions will include:

What is your age?

1. 18 years

2. 19 to 24

3. 25 to 30

4. 31 to 50

5. 51 to 65

6. 66 to 75

7. Over 75

2) What is your gender? Male / Female

3) Are you a licensed driver? Yes / no

Section One: About you and where you live

1) What type of residence do you currently live in?

1. House on farmland or major open space

2. Detached single-family house (not on farmland or open space)

3. Apartment, townhouse, condominium

4. Dormitory or other institutional housing

5. Other (please describe): _______________________________

2) How many adults 18 years or over, including yourself, are currently living in your household?

____ adults 18 years or over

3) How many cars or trucks does your household currently own or lease?

___cars or trucks

4) .What type of vehicle do you drive most?

1. A traditional car or family van

2. A pickup truck (or other truck)

3. A sport utility

4. A sports car

5. Motorcycle

6. Other

5) Do you own the vehicle that you drive most? Yes / no

6) What is your marital status?

1. Single

2. Married or with partner

3. Separated, divorced or widowed

7) Approximately how many hours a day do you spend watching television?

__hours per day

8) Approximately how many hours a day do you spend playing video games, or other games on a computer?

__ hours per day

9) Did you vote in the last national election? Yes / no

10) Did you work for a candidate or party in the last national election? Yes / No

11) What is the current status of your driver’s license?

1. Fully licensed

2. Learner’s permit

3. License revoked temporarily

4. License revoked permanently

5. No license

12) For how many years have you been driving?

1. 1 year

2. 2 years

3. 3 years

4. 4-5 years

5. 6-10 years

6. 11-15 years

7. More than 15 years

13) Approximately how many miles do you drive on average per week?

1. Less than 10 miles

2. 11 – 25 miles

3. 26 – 50 miles

4. 51 – 75 miles

5. 76 – 100 miles

6. More than 100 miles

14) In which ONE of the following areas do you consider your current home to be?

1. Urban

2. Suburban

3. Rural town or village

4. Rural, outside of a town or village

15) In the past year, did you ever decide not to address a medical concern or keep an appointment because it was too difficult to get to the doctor or medical center? (Yes/ No)

16) Some questions about distances…(Select one answer for each row.)

	Not applicable	Less than 1/2 a mile	From 1/2 to one mile	From one to 5 miles	From 5 to 15 miles	From 15 to 30 miles	From 30 to 50 miles	More than 50 miles
What is your one-way commute distance to work or school?
What is the approximate distance from your home to…
…the nearest store for basic needs like milk, bread and coffee
… the place where you buy most of your groceries
….the place where you buy major retail items like clothing and appliances
…the medical facility or hospital that you would use in an emergency
…a place where you can eat or drink and have an enjoyable time in the evening

Section Two: An Imaginary Situation

Imagine that…

You are driving home, alone, on a long two lane road going through the countryside. It is a sunny, dry afternoon. You have to go through several towns where the speed limit drops to 30 or 35 mph. Since you are trying to get home in time for an important dinner with your family and friends, you drive over 45 mph through these towns.

Thinking about the situation above, please respond to each statement below:

Driving over 45 mph through the towns would help to get me home in time for dinner

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

Speeding through the towns increases the chance of my hitting a pedestrian

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

People who are important to me will drive over 45 mph through such towns in the next two months.

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

Going over 45 mph through the towns would make my driving better adjusted to the traffic flow

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

The people I like to be around would never obey these town speed limits

Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree

Going faster through the towns makes me feel nervous

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

My parents would find the idea of me speeding…

Totally acceptable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Totally unacceptable

I am confident that if I wanted to I could drive within the town speed limits

True 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not at all true

I usually would go through the towns at the higher speed

Always 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never

It would be easier for me to follow the speed laws if I wasn’t so impatient

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

If I told my friends at dinner that I broke the speed limit to get home they would…

Approve 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disapprove

These rules make no sense for me, as I am a very precise driver who brakes quickly

Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree

There is a good chance the police will pull me over for going over 45 mph in these towns

True 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not at all true

None of the other drivers go at the lower speed.

True 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Note at all true

I would feel ashamed to be pulled over by the police for speeding through these towns

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

Speeding through the towns would make me get home much sooner

Strongly Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

I intend to go through similar towns at the higher speed in the next two months

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

Always restricting myself to the speed limits would be very difficult to do

Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree

Section Three: Where you live and how you travel

1) Concerning the place where you currently live… (Select one answer for each row.)

How strongly do you agree or disagree with following statements describing the place where you live now.	Strongly Agree	Agree	Somewhat Agree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Somewhat Disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Not Applicable
The distance to my job (or school) is too far
I like the idea of being in a rural setting
I have a lot of friends living close by, so it is easy to get together with them
To get to my home, I rely on dirt roads, or narrow, winding two lane roads
I like the feeling that I am physically isolated from other residents
I seem to have a lot of time on my hands, with not much to do
I feel I know my neighbors extremely well
There is nothing fun to do around here at night

2) For each trip purpose below, please indicate the transportation type (e.g. car or bus) that you use most often. (Select one answer for each row.)

Purpose	Car or truck	Walk	Bike	Taxi	Bus	Other	Does not apply
Work
School
Shop
Doctor
Restaurant, bar or entertainment
Park or recreation area
Family
Friends
Church/ Worship

3) For each trip purpose below, please indicate how often you got there by walking (Select one answer for each row.)

Thinking of last month, how often did you WALK to…	Never or not applicable	Less than once a month	Once per month	Several times per month	Once per week	2 to 5 times a week	Daily
Work
School
Shop
Doctor
Restaurant, bar or entertainment
Get to park or recreation area
Family
Friends
Church/ Worship

4) Approximately how many hours per week did you spend on each of these activities?

If you are unsure of the answer, please give your best estimate. (Select one answer for each row.)

Thinking about the last few weeks how much time did you spend…	None	Less than one hour per week	1 or 2 hours per week	3 or 4 hours per week	5 or 6 hours per week	7 or 8 hours per week	More than 8 hours per week
Walk, jog or run for exercise, pleasure, or to walk the dog
Bike for exercise or pleasure
Exercise at gym or health club
Other physical activity, such as hiking, climbing or kayaking
Spend time at a place where you can eat or drink and have an enjoyable time in the evening
Attend meetings, movies, plays or concerts

5) Concerning your satisfaction with the area where you live… (Select one answer for each row.)

Thinking about the area in which you live now…	Completely Satisfied	Satisfied	Somewhat Satisfied	Neither	Somewhat Unsatisfied	Unsatisfied	Completely Unsatisfied
Overall, how satisfied are you with the area where you live?
How satisfied are you with the potential for economic advancement (good jobs) in this area?
Overall, how satisfied are you with staying in the area, compared to moving to a more urban area?

Section Four: Another Imaginary Situation

Imagine that…..

You are driving home, alone, on a six lane rural Interstate highway, at 4 PM on a sunny dry afternoon. On a busy stretch of the road, traffic in the middle lane is traveling at 65 mph. You want to go faster, so you move into the fast lane. Here you find yourself stuck behind a car doing just 70 mph. You drive closer to the car until you are a couple of yards behind the car.

Thinking about the situation above, please respond to each statement below:

Driving at the higher speed in the passing lane would get me home a lot faster

Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree

Tailgating the car in front of me would increase the chance of having a bad accident

Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree

The people I like to be around will tailgate a slow car in the next three months

Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree

If I told them I tailgated the car, most of the people whose opinion I care about would

Approve 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disapprove

Driving close to the car in front would make me nervous

Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree

There is no danger in following close, as I am a very precise driver

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

If I drive close to the car there is a good chance that the police will pull me over

Highly likely 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Highly unlikely

I am confident that I could resist the temptation to tailgate if I wanted to

True 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not at all true

It is mostly up to me whether or not I drive close to the car in front

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

My parents taught me how to drive assertively

True 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not at all true

I would feel ashamed to be pulled over by the police for tailgating the slow car

Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree

If I follow close then it is very likely that the car would move out of the left lane

True 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not at all true

It would show the slow driver that I mean business

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

I would feel really annoyed if I had to drive behind a slow moving vehicle

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

It is highly likely that I will tailgate a car in the next two months

Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree

Section Five: Thoughts about Driving

1) Your driving skills… (Select one answer for each row.)

How strongly do you agree or disagree with these statements?	Strongly Agree	Agree	Somewhat Agree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Somewhat Disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
I am a safer driver than others of my age and sex
I am a more law abiding driver than others of my age and sex
My emotions influence my driving less than others of my age and sex.

2) Your driving habits... (Select one answer for each row.)

How often do you…	All the time	Nearly all the time	Frequently	Occasionally	Seldom	Almost never	Never
Have your seat belt fastened whenever the car is moving
Sound your horn to indicate your annoyance to another road user
Disregard the speed limit on a residential road
Pass a slow driver on the right
Race away from traffic lights with the intention of beating the driver next to you
Go for a drive to let off steam or calm down
Disregard the speed limit on a two lane highway
Drive home after having drunk more than the legal limit
Go more than 75 mph on a rural Interstate
Cross an intersection knowing that the traffic lights have already turned red
Go more than 80 mph on a rural Interstate
Become angered by a certain type of driver and indicate your hostility by whatever means you can
Just go for a drive (without having a specific destination in mind)
Use your cell phone while you are driving

3) Thoughts about driving… (Select one answer for each row).

How strongly do you agree or disagree with these statements?	Strongly Agree	Agree	Somewhat Agree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Somewhat Disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
I think it’s okay to speed if the traffic conditions allow you
Driving after having a few drinks is acceptable
It is dangerous to drink and drive
The risk of dying in a traffic crash is so low that you can ignore it
I like to watch a really good chase scene in the movies or on TV
Sometimes driving home at night, I have a problem staying alert and awake
Driving without a seatbelt is dangerous
Hurting someone else with my car would scar me for life
I have a very good car that is safe to drive considerably above the speed limit
It is not dangerous to use your cell phone while you are driving
Speed limits do not save lives
My dad liked to drive fast
Most accidents are caused by people who are less experienced than myself
The friends I hang out with think it is fun to see how fast you can go
When I speed, I’m only putting myself in danger, not others

4) Other considerations... (Select one answer for each row.)

How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following?	Strongly Agree	Agree	Somewhat Agree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Somewhat Disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
I would like to explore strange places
I love the freedom and independence that owning several cars provides for my household
I think I should spend more time walking, just to be healthier
I need to drive my car to get where I need to go
It would be hard for me to reduce my auto mileage
I like new and exciting experiences, even if I have to break the rules
I really enjoy driving and don’t want to minimize it
I am concerned about global warming and/or climate change
I prefer friends who are exciting and unpredictable
I can solve most problems if I invest the necessary effort
I can usually handle whatever comes my way
It is easy for me to stick to my aims and accomplish my goals.
I feel there is not enough time to do what I have to do
I like to do frightening things
I think that people are fair, helpful and can be trusted
Sometimes I think I am trapped in this place and cannot move away.
How often….	All the time	Nearly all the time	Frequently	Occasionally	Seldom	Almost never	Never
How often do you do dangerous things for fun?
How often have you taken sick time off work when you have something more interesting to do
How often do you do exciting things, even if they are dangerous?

5) In the last ten years, how many traffic tickets for moving traffic offenses have you received as a driver? (excluding parking tickets)

1. None

2. One

3. Two

4. Three

5. Four

6. Five or more

6) How many traffic crashes have you been involved in while you were driving that involved physical injuries to people or significant damage to a vehicle in the last ten years.

1. None

2. One

3. Two

4. Three or more

7) (Skip if “None” in previous question) In the last ten years how many traffic crashes have you been RESPONSIBLE for while you were driving that involved physical injuries to people or significant damage to a vehicle.

1. None

2. One

3. Two

4. Three or more

8) What is your highest completed education level?

1. Less than high school diploma

2. High school diploma or equivalency

3. Some college, no degree

4. Associate degree

5. Bachelor’s degree or higher

9) What is your current employment status?

1. Agriculture, farming, forestry, mining

2. Professional services/ managerial

3. Manufacturing/ transportation

4. Construction, carpentry

5. Work in an office, supporting others

6. Sales, retail

7. Retired

8. Not currently employed

9. Other

11) What is your annual household income? If you are unsure of the answer, please give your best estimate.

1. Under $25,000

2. $25,000 - $50,00

3. $50,000 - $100,000

4. $ $100,000 - $200,000

5. More than $200,000

12) What is your height? (If you do not know exactly, give your best estimate)

____Feet and _____Inches;

13) What is your weight? (If you do not know exactly, give your best estimate)

_______Pounds

Thanks for your help in this important research project! Your cooperation will help to improve the understanding of the issues of highway safety and health in the rural states of the Northeast!

Form FHWA-1579 (3-2008) 14