Do Americans Oppose Controversial Evidence-Based Road Safety Policies?

Abstract

Six safety improvement systems based on legislation have proved to reduce rural roadway fatalities. But their legislative enactment has been limited in part by a perception of journalists and policy makers that the policies are controversial and unpopular with the general public. However, a national public opinion survey found that an overwhelming proportion of Americans support all six policies. Strong support exists across all major demographic, geographic, gender, and ideological groups and calls that perception into question. These findings are instructive for those who attempt to reduce rural roadway fatalities through evidence-based rural roadway safety public policies.