New AAA Survey Report Indicates Overall Decrease In Risky Driving But Phone Use and Speeding Remain High

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Results from a self-reported survey released Thursday by AAA indicated a decrease in some unsafe driving behaviors like running red lights while others like speeding and phone use remain high.

The AAA Foundation's annual Traffic Safety Culture Index showed a decline in red-light running, driving while drowsy and driving while impaired. However, drivers still admitted to speeding and using a handheld cell phone behind the wheel.

"The number of motorists who continually speed up, who continually use their cell phone while driving, that number is still pretty high." said Regina Ali, public and government affairs manager at AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Nearly half the drivers in the survey admitted to speeding and about one-third said they used a handheld phone while driving.

"We have to remind each other when we're in the car and one of us touches our phone when we're driving, we say, 'No, no, no you can't do that.'" said Abby Mayou of Massachusetts.

45.1 percent of participants in the survey said they drove 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway in the last 30 days. 37.2 percent reported driving while holding and talking on the phone and 33.9 percent said they engaged in texting while driving.

"Especially with younger drivers, texting is something we really have to get on the ball of," said Khalil Tompkins, a man visiting from North Carolina.

The full survey can be read here.