HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is seeking public input on highway topics, such as traffic safety improvements and driving behaviors, through its annual online highway safety survey accessible at www.penndot.gov.
“We look to the public each year to gauge the public’s awareness and perception of highway safety efforts and solutions,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said.
“Safety remains our top priority and we thank the public for their participation because continued information sharing helps us review our efforts to reduce crashes and fatalities.”
Expanding upon previous versions, this year’s survey aims to help identify why drivers engage in safe or unsafe driving behaviors. The department will review the results for potential additions or adjustments to the department’s safety efforts.
It is available until Aug. 17 and should take about five minutes to complete. All responses, including the “comments” fields, are completely anonymous.
Nearly 3,000 people responded to last year’s survey. Last year’s notable results included that, in the previous 60 days, 80 percent of respondents said they had not driven a motor vehicle within two hours after consuming alcoholic beverages. Also, 89 percent of drivers indicated they used a seatbelt all or most of the time.
On survey questions related to motorcycles, nearly 63 percent of respondents reported that they themselves and their passengers always wear helmets or other protective gear, an increase from 53 percent in 2016.
Last year’s survey also asked about texting or e-mailing while driving. Almost 91 percent of those surveyed indicated that they never or rarely text message or check e-mail while driving, a decrease from 95 percent in 2016.
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