Ad Council of Rochester: Rochester has most distracted drivers

Posted at: 09/20/2012 4:42 PM | Updated at: 09/21/2012 3:09 AM
By: Lynette Adams | WHEC.com

You probably see people doing all kinds of things behind the wheel of a car. The Ad Council of Rochester says distracted driving is a growing problem. They recently found out just how big a problem it is locally.

On Thursday, the Ad Council of Rochester released the findings of a survey on distracted driving. The results are startling.

The survey is part of a local campaign headed by the Ad Council to put a stop to distracted driving.

The Ad Council wanted to start the conversation about this problem and get the community to work on the solution. They wanted to know just how serious the problem is.

Henrietta resident Amish Rughoonundon tries to stay away from people who are doing things behind the wheel while they are driving.

Rughoonundon said, "If I see a car next to me and the person's doing that, I try actually to get away from them."

He's worried they could be distracted.

He said, "You got to be defensive right. I usually speed away."

Rughoonundon is not alone. Distracted driving is a problem for many people. The Rochester Ad Council say it's a growing problem right here in our area.

The Council recently conducted an online survey of 800 drivers and observed 11,000 drivers at the corner of ten of the area's busiest intersections.

The one at West Henrietta Road and Jefferson Road in Henrietta are examples of a few busy intersections. A quarter of the survey participants admitted to texting while driving within the last month.

The national average is 18%. One out of three people admitted to talking on their cell phone without a hands free device. The number is even higher among young adults.

Todd Butler, President and CEO of Ad Council said, "We were surprised to learn the rates were higher than in comparable studies that were done nationally and in places as nearby as Syracuse."

Drivers themselves are concerned.

Alex Tanea, a Webster resident said, "I fear it. Because you hear these stories and you hate to be on the wrong end when you're not doing anything wrong."

Halee Potter, a Filmore resident said, "I've seen accidents, I've been in a fender bender once and it was so scary. Its something that can be so easily prevented."

The Ad Council will unveil a much bigger campaign in about a month. It will be similar to the no smoking campaign and others you've seen over the years, with the goal of saving lives.

Here’s the complete list of intersections:

NY 250 & NY 96-4.0%
Jefferson & West Henrietta Roads-20.7%
Clinton Street & Court Street-3.0%
NY 104 & Long Pond Road-1.8%
Empire Creek(Webster)-2.6%
Five Mile Line Road and Penfield Road-6.5%
Clover Street and Monroe Avenue-7.7%
Alexander and East Main Street-3.3%
NY 104 and Lake Avenue-2.4%
NY 104 and Lake Avenue-0.4%

 

 

 

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