A recent attitude survey has found there is strong publicsupport for traffic cameras that catch motorists who speed and runlights, a research group said.

The findings by the Insurance Research Council were contained ina report titled “Public Attitude Monitor, Issue 1, HighwaySafety.”

Elizabeth A. Sprinkel, senior vice president of IRC, said thestudy found that “the American public supports the use of automatedenforcement devices to make highways safer.”

The report was based on an online survey conducted by TRC, amarket research company that secured questionnaire responses from1,005 members of a consumer survey panel, said IRC.

Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed strongly favor and 31percent somewhat favor the use of red light cameras that photographthe license plates of vehicles that run red lights, according toIRC.

Sixty-one percent favor red light cameras that detect vehiclesthat drive in excess of the speed limit, said the report.

Of drivers who own a cell phone, 47 percent strongly favor and30 percent somewhat favor laws that ban the use of cell phoneswhile driving, according to IRC.

The report also said that 65 percent of drivers are distractedby cell phone use, while 30 percent are somewhat affected, said thereport.

“Even though they [drivers] recognize an association betweencell phone use and driving accidents, they are reluctant to give upthe convenience of using their phone while driving,” said Ms.Sprinkel.