Sixty-two percent of U.S. motorists
believe the federal government should invest more money to improve roadways. That’s
the finding of a recent public opinion poll conducted by AAA. 81 percent of those
responding believe the federal government should do more to improve the
condition of roads and bridges.
When asked about their top concerns
regarding driving their cars, 34 percent brought up the reliability and safety
of their vehicle while 19 percent focused on the direct financial cost of
driving. 15 percent were concerned about the behavior of other drivers, 15
percent viewed road safety as their top concern, and 15 percent said the gas
mileage/fuel efficiency of their vehicle was their biggest priority.
The latest numbers from the Triple-A
found that the average cost to own and operate a car rose nearly 2 percent this
year, to more than $9,100 per year, based upon 15,000 miles of annual driving.
Motorists who feel that
the federal government should increase taxes or fees to improve roadways
support a number of options for increasing transportation funding, including a
national gasoline sales tax, a new national sales tax dedicated to
transportation, expanding the use of tolls on interstate highways, and creating
a carbon tax on fossil fuels.
