Survey Shows Drivers Are Responding to Cell Phone Legislation

A survey of drivers shows that more than three quarters of those who used to talk on their hand-held cellphones while driving have stopped.

The information is contained in the most recent Nova Scotia Road Safety Survey.

Starting next month, drivers across the province will be contacted to participate in the second annual survey. The Road Safety Survey was developed to provide baseline information and help identify road safety issues of importance to Nova Scotians.

"The survey helps us make the right decisions in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the province's initiatives that support the safety of all Nova Scotians," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "We want Nova Scotia to be a leader in reducing deaths and injuries on the road."

Seventy-eight per cent of drivers who previously used their cell-phone have either switched to a hands-free device or no longer talk on their phone as a result of legislation banning the use of hand-held cellphones while driving.

Results from the survey suggest that speed and impaired driving are considered the most serious problems by drivers. Distracted driving was also identified as a serious problem. Nearly seven in ten drivers rated all three as serious problems.

While drivers view speeding to be a serious problem, the vast majority, 81 per cent, admitted to having at least occasionally driven between one to 15 km/h over the speed limit in the month prior to the survey.

The province has introduced several initiatives to improve road safety, including a targeted impaired driving unit, banning hand-held cellphones, stronger and expanded penalties for street racing, and legislation and funding to improve crosswalk safety.

The 2009 Road Safety Survey was conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. A total of 1,445 telephone interviews were conducted with drivers last June. The report is available on the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal website at www.gov.ns.ca/tran .