New data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals that the prevalence of unsafe driving continues as drivers report they frequently speed, run red lights, use distracting devices or drive drowsy, despite the fact that more than one-in-four have a loved one who has been seriously injured or killed in a crash.

According to the foundation’s latest Traffic Safety Culture Index, which annually assesses and benchmarks the attitudes and behaviors of drivers, more than 50 percent of Washington drivers report talking on a cell phone while driving in the last 30 days, yet 87 percent indicated it is a serious threat.

“It is very disappointing that we continue to see a prevailing attitude of ‘do as I say, not as I do,’ when large numbers of motorists seem to recognize the risks of certain behaviors but do them anyway,” said Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Enhancing the safety culture in society must begin with each individual.”

The results show that unsafe behaviors persist even though one in five drivers have themselves been involved in a serious crash, and one in 10 has been seriously injured in a crash. While behaviors are widespread, findings reveal a few dramatic differences in actions and perceptions among Northwest drivers compared to National trends. In a comparison of Washington drivers to motorists in other areas of the country, data shows:

Cell phone use and texting:

· 84 percent of Washington drivers indicated that talking on a hand-held cell phone is unacceptable, a substantial increase compared to the U.S. average (66 percent).

· 27 percent of drivers in Washington report sending a text message or email within the last 30 days, yet 93 percent of drivers say it is an unacceptable behavior.

· Of Washington drivers surveyed, 82 percent indicated they support laws and regulations to ban hand-held cell phone use, while only 68 percent of U.S. respondents indicated the same level of support.

Impaired driving:

· Nationally, 92 percent of drivers indicated that driving one hour after using marijuana is unacceptable, while only 83 percent of Washington drivers indicated they believe the same behavior is unacceptable.

· Drivers view drinking and driving as a very serious threat, and virtually all disapprove of drinking and driving and acknowledge that others also disapprove of it. However, one in eight admit to driving at least once in the past year when they thought their alcohol level might have been close to or possibly over the legal limit, and of these, more than 19 percent (2.4 percent of all drivers) said they did so in the past month.

In comparison to national trends, Washington drivers indicated that they engage in risky behavior less frequently than drivers in other areas of the country:

The findings also offered insight about drivers’ attitudes related to cognitive distraction. Nearly two out of three drivers in the U.S. believe hands-free phone use is acceptable, and nearly half (46 percent) of drivers who report using speech-based in-vehicle systems say they do not believe these systems are at all distracting. These results are prevalent despite extensive research indicating that hands-free devices can lead to cognitive distraction.

“Despite the growing body of research that offers evidence about the possible dangers of using hands-free technologies, most drivers don’t understand the risks and continue to use these technologies,” said Kissinger. “The good news is that we all have the ability to make safer choices, and can personally enhance safety while driving.”

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety issued its first Traffic Safety Culture Index in 2006. The 2014 report can be found online.