6 out of 10 most socially unacceptable behaviours relate to driving

13 Jan 2010

MEDIA RELEASE: 13 January 2010

The TAC has released key findings of a social acceptability survey which looked at how driving behaviours compare to other non-driving behaviours in terms of their social unacceptability.

"Of the 10 most unacceptable behaviours, six relate to driving, highlighting the impact of public education campaigns about various driving behaviours," said TAC Acting Chief Executive Officer Philip Reed.

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.

Key findings of the survey included:

• Driving with a BAC of 0.10 (ranked #1) and driving under the influence of ecstasy (ranked # 2) are considered just as socially unacceptable as violence against women (ranked #4) and gambling (ranked #5).
• Driving under the influence of ecstasy (ranked #2) and marijuana (ranked #7) are considered to be more socially unacceptable then selling marijuana (ranked #10), taking ecstasy before going to a dance party (ranked #16) and smoking marijuana in your own home (ranked #39).
• Driving while talking on a handheld mobile (ranked #28), tailgating (ranked #27) and sending a text message while driving (ranked #23) are considered to be more socially unacceptable then exceeding the speed limit by 10 km/h in a 40 km/h zone (ranked #36), 60 km/h zone (ranked #34) or 100 km/h zone (ranked #41). For all speeding behaviours, the degree of social unacceptability increases with age.
• Almost half of Victorians rate alerting other drivers about the location of speed cameras to be very acceptable or acceptable with only one in ten considering this behaviour to be unacceptable.

"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.

"We want the Victorian community to take a more proactive role in voicing their disapproval of unsafe driving behaviours amongst their families, colleagues and friends so that road trauma can be reduced." 

"As we saw over Christmas many people understand the potential consequences of their behaviour but keep doing the wrong thing. It’s time that we, as a community, take responsibility for our actions on the road."

For more information contact:

TAC Media and Communications Adviser Amanda Bavin 5225 6591, 0439 567 249 or Emily Bogue on 0429 416 778