Life On the road

Drivers’ favorites are all over the map

Almost all of them use a cell phone, one-third of them carry a laptop computer with them on the road and their tastes in music are all over the dial. Who are they? The 558 van operators at Atlas Van Lines who participated in the company’s annual driver survey this year. Here are some of the results:

When you’re on the road, which of the following do you use?
(Exceeds 100% due to multiple responses)

Cell phone (97%); CB radio (44%); Laptop–32%; Internet/e-mail–27%; Idle-Aire– 19%; Blackberry/Treo/similar device – 7%; Pager–2%

What is the most scenic stretch of highway in the U.S? (Top three responses)

I-70 Utah/Colorado/Kansas/Missouri/Pennsylvania/Maryland–13%; I-90 Washington/ Idaho/Montana–9%; I-40 North Carolina/ Tennessee/Arkansas/Oklahoma/New Mexico/Arizona/California–9%

What is the most boring stretch of highway in the U.S.? (Top three responses)

I-10 California/Arizona/New Mexico/Texas/ Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama/Florida– 23%; I-80 California/Nevada/Utah/Wyoming/ Nebraska/Iowa/Ohio/Pennsylvania–13%;
I-70 Colorado/Kansas/Illinois/ Ohio/ Pennsylvania–10%

Which highway do you think is the safest?
(Top three responses)

I-10 California/Arizona/New Mexico/Texas/ Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama/Florida–14%; I-80 California/Nevada/Utah/Wyoming/ Nebraska/Iowa/Illinois/Ohio/Pennsylvania–12%; I-40 California/Arizona/New Mexico/Texas/Oklahoma/Arkansas/Tennessee/
North Carolina–10%

What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
(Exceeds 100% due to multiple responses)

Subway (28%); Wendy’s (18%); Kentucky Fried Chicken–15%; Arby’s–13%; Taco Bell –12%; Burger King–9%; McDonald’s– 8%; Hardee’s–4%; Other (In-N-Out Burger, Jack in the Box, Popeyes Chicken, Quizno’s, etc.)–6%; I don’t eat fast food– 8%

When I’m on the road and have the radio on, most likely I am listening to (style):

(Exceeds 100% due to multiple responses)
Classic 60s, 70s and 80s–33%; Country–31%; Rock and Roll–28%; National Public Radio or talk radio–17%; Christian–8%; R&B/Rap/Hip-Hop–6%; News/Sports–4%; Classical–2%; Nostalgia–1%; Other (Jazz, Comedy, Audio fiction/Books on tape)–9%

While on the road, how many times have you stopped to aid another motorist?

Once or twice–45%; 3 to 10 times–28%; More than 10 times–10%; I have never aided another motorist–17%
What state has the best rest stops? (Top three)
Florida–23%; Texas–15%; Ohio–13%

How do you like your coffee?

Leaded (cream and sugar)–35%; Don’t drink coffee–25%; Regular (black)–23%; Premium (cream only)–9%; High test (sugar only)–8%

What’s the hardest part of life on the road?

(Exceeds 100% due to multiple responses)
Eating right–55%; Exercise–26%; Staying in touch with family–22%; Keeping on top of finances–17%; Paperwork–15%; DOT hours of service regulations–15%; Work schedule–11%; Getting my mail–8%; Other (being away from family, labor, getting rest, parking, traffic, etc.)– 6%