New research finds distracted driving on the rise on I-95

Transurban-Fluor and AAA Mid-Atlantic have released the second annual report on distracted drivers on I-95 in Northern Virginia, which found that despite major construction, distracted driving is a growing problem on the heavily travelled corridor. The report, part of the Orange Cones, No Phones campaign focused on reducing distracted driving in the 95 Express Lanes construction zone, found that the number of frequent I-95 drivers likely to use their cell phone while driving has increased from 56 percent i
May 12, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
600 Transurban-Fluor and 4939 AAA Mid-Atlantic have released the second annual report on distracted drivers on I-95 in Northern Virginia, which found that despite major construction, distracted driving is a growing problem on the heavily travelled corridor.  The report, part of the Orange Cones, No Phones campaign focused on reducing distracted driving in the 95 Express Lanes construction zone, found that the number of frequent I-95 drivers likely to use their cell phone while driving has increased from 56 percent in 2013 to 62 percent in 2014.  

According to the report, based on a survey of 1,023 drivers who live in Northern Virginia and frequently travel the 95 Express Lanes project corridor, the number of distracted drivers on I-95 who have had a traffic incident or near-miss as a result of their behaviour has increased from 24 per cent in 2013 to 31 per cent in 2014.  Texting while driving is exceptionally dangerous – drivers who text while driving are three times more likely to experience a traffic incident or near miss versus non-texters.

“Distracted driving is dangerous under the best conditions – it is even more dangerous in a work zone,” said Aubrey Layne, Virginia Secretary of Transportation.  “Transportation safety and the safety of those who report to work each day to improve Virginia’s infrastructure is our top priority.  Drivers can make our roads significantly safer by taking one simple step – put down the phone while behind the wheel.”  

The report also found that work demands may increase distracted driving, with more than half (54 per cent) of all distracted drivers on I-95 saying they are at least occasionally responding to a work-related issue.

The 95 Express Lanes corridor is currently an active construction zone with approximately 1,500 people travelling to work in the 29-mile project corridor each day.  Despite major construction activities, just 18 per cent of I-95 drivers have specifically opted to not read or write texts or emails in the I-95 construction zone.  Only 11 per cent say that they no longer talk on a cell phone in the construction zone.

The 95 Express Lanes are on schedule to open in early 2015 and work to complete the project continues during the remainder of 2014, including installing and testing new overhead signs, tolling gantries and traffic management equipment.   Reversible like the HOV lanes today, the 95 Express Lanes will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The 95 Express Lanes will use dynamic tolls to keep traffic flowing and provide a more predictable travel option on I-95 between Route 610 in Stafford County to just north of the Capital Beltway.  Drivers with three or more people in the vehicle will be able to travel Toll-free with an E-ZPass Flex set to HOV mode.  Other drivers will need an E-ZPass to pay a Toll for a faster, more reliable trip on I-95.
Urban Traffic Control Charging, Tolling & RUC

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Research finds LED stop signs effect ‘similar to normal stop signs’
    February 5, 2014
    The results of a two-pronged investigation by researchers from the Minnesota Traffic Observatory at the US University of Minnesota on the safety related effects of flashing LED stop signs have just been released. They conducted two studies: a statistical study to compare the crash frequency after installation of a flashing LED stop signs at 15 intersections to a prediction of what that crash frequency would have been had the flashing LED stop signs not been installed; and a field study using video to exa
    Read More
  • Caltrans takes the long view of transport
    October 21, 2016
    Caltrans’ Malcolm Dougherty took time out of his schedule at ITS America 2016 in San Jose to talk to ITS International about current and future challenges. As director of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) since mid-2012, many would say that Malcolm Dougherty has one of the best jobs in transportation. Caltrans is one of the most progressive and innovative transport authorities, implementing policies to encourage cycling, piloting new
    Read More
  • US congestion costs continue to rise
    January 25, 2012
    The 2010 Urban Mobility Report, published by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, concludes that after two years of slight declines in overall traffic congestion - attributable to the economic downturn and high fuel prices - leading indicators suggest that as the economy rebounds, traffic problems are doing the same. While 2008 was the best year for commuters in at least a decade, the problem again began to grow in 2009.
    Read More
  • ITS boosts safety on Brazil’s Regis Bittencourt Highway
    October 5, 2016
    Brazil’s incident-prone Regis Bittencourt Highway was once known as ‘the highway of death’ but investment in ITS systems has brought about some big improvements, as Mauro Nogarin discovers Between 2010 and the end of 2014, Brazil made major investments in traffic technology across its national highways with the result that the ITS network went from 4,963km of fibre optics to 8,524km and the number of cameras increased from 1,127 to 3,208.
    Read More

Highlighted Content