ERIE, Pa., May 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With Americans
planning to hit the road over Memorial Day weekend and throughout
the summer, a national survey commissioned by Erie Insurance
provides new insights about what drivers can expect to see on the
road. The survey asked about everything from concerns about other
drivers' behaviors; their own habits when it comes to speeding and
use of social media while driving; and the number of miles they'll
drive in a single road trip. The survey also found that while
drivers may be road ready, their cars may not be, as some put off
vehicle maintenance during the pandemic.
"We know a lot of drivers are anxious to travel again as
pandemic restrictions begin to lift, so we commissioned this survey
to get a glimpse into drivers' mindsets as they venture back out,"
said Jon Bloom, vice president of
personal auto, Erie Insurance. "Our survey uncovered some
concerning behaviors and showed that we need to remain vigilant and
keep reminding people that driving is something that requires their
full attention. We want everyone to enjoy their road trips and make
it home safely."
Driving Behaviors
When asked about their own driving behaviors, nearly three
quarters of drivers (72%) admitted they sometimes or often speed.
Another 62% said they sometimes or often drive while tired, and a
very concerning 7% said they sometimes or often fall asleep at the
wheel. Drivers aged 25-44 seem the most tired, with 13% of them
saying they sometimes or often fall asleep while driving.
When asked what most worries them about other drivers, the top 5
concerns were:
1.
|
Texting or talking on
the phone while driving
|
50%
|
2.
|
Road rage
|
18%
|
3.
|
Speeding
|
14%
|
4.
|
Tailgating
|
12%
|
5.
|
Failing to
yield
|
3%
|
Social Media and Cell Phone Use While
Driving
Significant percentages of drivers admit they use
their cell phones while driving, including to access GPS (36%), to
take or make calls (36% and 28%, respectively), or to check or
reply to texts (26% and 17%, respectively).
A much smaller percentage (5%) admit to accessing social media
while driving. Of those, their top 5 social media activities
are:
1.
|
Scrolling through
photos, posts or other content
|
89%
|
2.
|
Taking
pictures
|
37%
|
3.
|
Posting photos or
videos
|
26%
|
4.
|
Watching or shooting
videos
|
22%
|
5.
|
Commenting on other
people's photos or videos
|
19%
|
Racking Up the Miles
Half of survey respondents (51%)
said they plan to take at least one road trip vacation this year.
Of those, 14% plan to drive 1,000 miles or more on their trip.
Westerners are most likely to drive this far (25%), while few
drivers from the Northeast (5%) and Midwest (7%) plan to venture
this far from home.
You're Ready to Roll – But is Your Car?
Most drivers
kept up with their vehicle's maintenance during the pandemic, but
one in five said they put off some of these tasks. The top 5 common
vehicle services they postponed are below and also are shown in
this infographic:
1.
|
Oil and filter
changes
|
65%
|
2.
|
Cleaning interior and
exterior of vehicle
|
45%
|
3.
|
Tire
rotation
|
38%
|
4.
|
Checking tire
inflation, tread and general condition
|
28%
|
5.
|
Engine and cabin air
filter changes
|
24%
|
See more results from the Erie Insurance auto insurance survey
and visit our website at www.erieinsurance.com.
Methodology
This survey was conducted online by
Falls on behalf of Erie Insurance,
from February 12 through February 25,
2021, among 500 U.S. residents ages 18 and older.
Falls established the sampling
quotas, designed the questionnaire, tabulated the survey responses,
and managed the overall project. Falls used Dynata (Plano, TX) to administer the survey via the
internet, including mobile devices, to Dynata's captive U.S. panels
who met the age, gender and regional demographic criteria.
About Erie Insurance
According to A.M. Best
Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 12th largest
homeowners insurer, 13th largest automobile insurer and 13th
largest commercial lines insurer in the
United States based on direct premiums written. Founded in
1925, Erie Insurance is a Fortune 500 company and the 15th largest
property/casualty insurer in the United
States based on total lines net premium written. Rated A+
(Superior) by A.M. Best, ERIE has
more than 6 million policies in force and operates in 12 states and
the District of Columbia.
News releases and more information are available on
ERIE's website at
www.erieinsurance.com.
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SOURCE Erie Insurance Group