Speeding, long way to the top of socially unacceptable behaviours

24 Jan 2011

MEDIA RELEASE: 24 January 2011

An annual survey has found that one in four Victorians consider driving 10 km over the speed limit in a 100km zone to be socially acceptable. It was ranked 43 overall based on 66 behaviours surveyed.

This was a key finding of the second annual social acceptability survey conducted by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC). It looks at how a range of driving behaviours compare to other non-driving behaviours in terms of their social acceptability.

TAC Head of Community Relations, Phil Reed, said it was most concerning that little had changed in people's attitudes towards speeding from last year to this year.

"While the community tends to view more excessive speeding, such as 40 km per hour over the limit as unacceptable, there still appears to be some tolerance of low level speeding. This seems to be particularly the case in the higher speed zones," Mr Reed said.

The table below highlights how people view speeding behavior. For example, 89 per cent believe that driving 100 kph in a 60 zone is very unacceptable or unacceptable.

 
Drink driving continues to top the list of socially unacceptable behaviours with driving with a BAC of 0.10 ranked number 1.

The overall objective of the quantitative study was to check the social pulse of behaviours that are deemed acceptable or unacceptable, to understand how society views driving related behaviours. It is when behaviours are seen as "socially wrong" and not just "legally wrong" that peer opinions and social norms start to influence behaviour.

1,500 surveys were completed by respondents aged between 18 and 60 years in a sample that was representative of the Victorian community.

Other key findings of the survey included:

• Driving with a BAC of 0.10 (ranked #1) and taking ecstasy before driving (ranked # 2) are regarded as more unacceptable than having an affair (ranked # 20) and hitting a woman (ranked #6).
• Driving under the influence of ecstasy (ranked #2) and marijuana (ranked #9) are considered to be more socially unacceptable then selling marijuana (ranked #12), taking ecstasy before going to a dance party (ranked #21) and smoking marijuana in your own home (ranked #44).
• Driving while talking on a handheld mobile (ranked #27), tailgating (ranked #25) and sending a text message while driving (ranked #24) are considered to be more socially unacceptable than having a one night stand (ranked # 46) and cheating on a tax return to save $1,000 (ranked # 34).

"When it comes to speeding, this survey shows that there is still a way to go before we reach the same levels of social unacceptability that we see with drink driving and drug driving," Mr Reed said.

Small changes in speed can result in significant reductions in road trauma. In average conditions, a car travelling at 60 km/h will take about 45 metres to stop in an emergency braking situation. A car braking from 65 km/h will still be moving at close to 32 km/h after 45 metres travelled.

"We know that speeding accounts for around 30% of road trauma on our roads - it is a massive community issue that the TAC will continue to focus on with our road safety partners."

"The TAC’s goal in 2011 is to make speeding as socially unacceptable as drink driving. Attitude change is a long-term process so we will continue to seek new and innovative ways to achieve this goal," said Mr Reed.

"Our current "Rename Speed" campaign is an example of how we are using social media to drive home the message that speed kills. So far, more than 18,000 Australians have got behind the campaign and pledged to slow down on rural and regional roads."

For more information contact:
TAC Media and Communications Advisor Sarah Campbell on 5225 6464 or 0429 294 262.