PUERTO RICO
CAR SEAT USE
2016
FINAL REPORT
PRESENTED TO:
qualitative
September 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1
TIME OF COMMUTE TO WORK (%) ................................................................................... 4
GENERAL DRIVING HABITS .................................................................................................. 4
TYPE OF VEHICLE MOST FREQUENTLY DRIVEN (%) .................................................... 5
FINDINGS: CAR SEAT USAGE ……………………………………………………………………………………….9
PUERTO RICO TSC STUDY 2016
_____________
INTRODUCTION
The PUERTO RICO TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION (CST by its Spanish acronym)
commissioned TMC Qualitative (TMCQ) to conduct a study to better understand driving
habits in Puerto Rico and also, measure the effectiveness of media campaigns on several
issues, such as seat belt usage, speeding, safety / distraction, driving under the influence
of alcohol and child car seats.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The study was formulated to fulfill the following objectives:

To generate information about habits and attitudes of drivers in Puerto Rico , and
the degree to which these occur among Puerto Rico drivers, regarding:
o Seatbelt usage
o Speeding
o Distracted Driving
o Driving under the influence of alcohol
o Measure effectiveness of educational campaigns regarding before
mentioned issues.
o Car seats (for children)
DESIGN



A total of 400 person to person interviews were conducted among licensed drivers,
16 years* of age or older, that drive a motor vehicle, at least on several occasions
per week.
Interviews were conducted at participants’ homes.
Fieldwork was conducted during the month of June, 2016.
_________
*In consideration of the legal drinking age, two questions were not presented to participants younger than 18 years:
Q23. How many drinks can you have and still be able to drive?
Q24. In the past 30 days, have you driven after drinking alcohol?
PUERTO RICO TSC STUDY 2016
SAMPLE PROFILE
A comprehensive profile follows, describing population under study.
SAMPLE PROFILE
GENDER:
Male
Female
AGE GROUP:
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-59
60 OR OLDER
GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS:
San Juan / Metro
Caguas / East
Arecibo / North
Ponce / South
Mayaguez / West
WORK STATUS:
Work full time
Work part time
Retired
Not employed
45
16
16
55
23
60
15
14
14
14
11
20
20
29
The median age is
approximately in the 35 to
44 range.
50
26
Approximately 64% of total sample work, at least on a part-time basis; and 94% of those
who work, report they drive to work.
The average commute to work is 19 miles (mean); taking an average trip time of
approximately 27 minutes. Both parameters show outliers:
 28% drive more than 20 miles
 29% drive more than 30 minutes; 13% more than 40 minutes.
 50% drive more than 20 minutes (median).
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COMMUTE TO WORK:

19 miles
Average miles driven:
o Mean: 19 miles
o Median: 12 miles (50% drive
over 12 miles)

27 minutes
Average time to reach work
o Mean: 27 minutes
o Median: 20 minutes (50%
drive over 20 minutes)
MILES DRIVEN TO WORK (%)
1 TO 5
24
6 TO 10
22
11 TO 15
16
16 TO 20
11
21 TO 30
11
MORE THAN 30
16
Base: Those that work and drive to work .
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TIME OF COMMUTE TO WORK (%)
1 TO 10
18
11 TO 15
19
15 TO 20
17
20 TO 25
8
25 TO 30
16
30 TO 35
5
35 TO 40
6
40 TO 45
4
MORE THAN 45
9
Base: Those that work and drive to work .
GENERAL DRIVING HABITS

A large majority drive on a daily basis; about 8 of every 10 respondents report driving
“daily”; 90% either “daily” or “almost daily”.
DRIVING FREQUENCY (%)
78
Everyday
"Almost" daily
12
Less frequently
10
Base: Total sample.
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
Passenger cars (65%) and SUVs (26%) are the types of vehicles most driven by
respondents.
TYPE OF VEHICLE MOST FREQUENTLY DRIVEN (%)
65
Passenger car
26
SUV
Van
2
Mini Van
2
5
Truck / Pick up
Base: Total sample.

When asked to choose between Puerto Rico, Florida, New York and the Dominican
Republic, which, in their opinion, has the worst drivers, almost half of respondents
(46%) say it is Puerto Rico. The Dominican Republic followed with 33%.
WHICH HAS THE WORST DRIVERS (%)
46
Puerto Rico
33
Dominican Republic
7
New York
Florida
1
Does not know
13
Base: Total sample.
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PUERTO RICO TSC STUDY 2016

Respondents identified which concerns / situations they consider as “the one most
serious” regarding their personal safety when driving in Puerto Rico.
MOST SERIOUS PERSONAL ROAD SECURITY CONCERNS
IN PUERTO RICO (%)
18
Use of Alcohol / DUI
21
Distracted driving / use of cell phones
19
Speeding
17
Reckless driving
16
Poor road conditions
6
Bicycles / motorcycles
Others
4
Base: Total sample.

Distracted driving, speeding, DUI, poor road conditions and reckless driving in
general are considered most critical.

They also reported which road security situation they consider most serious in
Puerto Rico, in general terms. Definitely, poor road conditions is the major
concern.
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MOST SERIOUS ROAD SECURITY CONCERNS
( IN GENERAL) IN PUERTO RICO (%)
40
Poor road conditions / malfunctioning traffic lights
17
Speeding
29
Reckless driving
15
Use of alcohol / DUI / drugs
Distracted driving
14
Use of cell phones
14
11
Poor road lighting
4
Negligent bicycle / motorcycle riders
Stray animal
Lack of Police vigilance
3
2
Base: Total sample.
PERSONAL DRIVING EXPERIENCES (Past 3 years)

According to respondents, in the past 3 years. . .
o A total of 13% have been involved in some sort of auto accident.
 . . . 17% in the 25 to 34 group
 . . . 10% in the 60 or older or older segment
 . . . 10% females / 15% males
o Approximately 14% has been fined for driving above the legal speed limit.
 . . . 19% males / 9% females
 . . . 18% in the 16 to 24 year old age group
 . . . 23% in the 25 to 34 year old age group
 . . . 19% in the 45 to 59 year old segment
 . . . 2% in the 60 year or older age group
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o Some 13% admit driving after consuming alcohol.
 . . . 20% males / 8% females
 . . . 12% in the 45 to 59 year old age group.
 . . . 5% in the 60 year old or older age group.
o A total of 39% report having sent a text message while driving.
 . . . 55% in the 25 to 34 year old age group
 . . . 60% in the 16 to 24 year old age group
 . . . 7% in the 60 year old or older age group.
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PUERTO RICO
CAR SEAT USE
2016
9
PUERTO RICO TSC STUDY 2016
AWARENESS OF MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR CAR SEAT USE /
IMPORTANCE OF USING

A total of 47% of all participants recalled being exposed to ”any” message about the
importance of use of car seats for children.

The incidence was quite at par for males (45%) and females (48%).

It was highest for the oldest segment; 60%.
RECALL OF ANY CAR SEAT MESSAGE
53
47
RECALL
DO NOT RECALL
Base: Total Sample
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MEDIA WHERE CAR SEAT MESSAGE WAS SEEN / HEARD

The following table summarizes media exposure, as per car seats messages
recalled:
MEDIA
EXPOSURE
%
59

TV

Radio
25

Radio news / program
18

TV news / program
16

Newspaper ad
14

Internet article
12

Newspaper article
11

Word of mouth
10

Workshops / conferences
10

Posters / “cruzacalles”
9

Magazine ad
2

Internet page
6

Billboards
6

Promotional article
4

Magazine article
2

Magazine ad
2

Movies
1

Others
1
Base: Recalled Car seat message
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AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR CAR SEAT CAMPAIGN

Close to 7 of every 10 (67%) of participants who recalled Car Seat messages
identified the Comisión para la Seguridad en el Tránsito(CST) (Traffic Safety
Commision) as the institution responsible for the campaign.
AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR CAR SEAT CAMPAIGN
67
25
21
8
CST
DTOP
Highways
Authority
PR Police
5
6
Insurance
companies
Other
12
Does not
recall
Base: Those that recall Car seat messages
CAR SEAT USAGE BY PARENTS

In the total sample, 19% are parents of children 9 years of age or younger.

Of these:
o Approximately 84% are aware that children (until 9 years of age or 4 ft
9 in tall) must use a booster seat.
o Some 77% use car seats “always”; 84% do so “always” or “almost
always” (for females this is 93%).
o A total of 15% admit “never” using them.
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CAR SEAT USAGE BY PARENTS
(by parents of children 9 years or younger)
77
7
Always use

Almost always
15
1
Rarely ("casi nunca")
Never
Among participating parents, 64% identified the Fire Department (“Bomberos”) as
the agency / place to have children’s cars seats inspected. The Fire Department
(“Bomberos”) was most often reported, followed by Police (“Policía”) with 10% of
mentions.
WHERE TO INSPECT CAR SEATS
20
80
SAY THEY "DO NOT KNOW""
AGENCY
 Fire Department
 Police
 Obras Públicas
 DTOP
 CST
SAY THEY "KNOW"
%
77
10
7
3
3
Base: Parents that say they “know”
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