Public Perceptions of the Safety of Automobile Travel

The study examines individual differences among full-probability samples of the general population (from the Northeast and the Southwest) with regard to their perception of the safety of automobile travel. More specifically, the study explores how individuals differ in their: 1) perceptions of the technology's positive and negative consequences; 2) perceptions of safety standards which regulate automobile travel; and 3) personal involvement in activities (for and against) developing, maintaining, or utilizing this form of transportation. The analyses of perceptions for this mature technology are compared to perceptions of another form of transportation (air travel), and two more recently controversial technologies (industrial chemicals and handguns).