Lifestyle

59% See Years Before 40 As Best of Their Lives

For most Americans, the best years of their lives happen before they turn 40.

Americans Like Surveillance Cameras Except at Red Lights

Most adults nationwide support the use of surveillance cameras on police cars and in public spaces like train stations and parks, but they aren’t quite as sold on the idea of installing them at traffic intersections.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 86% of American Adults believe it’s a good idea for police cars to use surveillance cameras to monitor what happens when officers approach and apprehend suspects. Only 10% don’t like the idea. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

A majority (66%) also thinks there should be surveillance cameras in all major public spaces such as train stations, parks and sports stadiums. This idea draws opposition from 23% of adults, while 11% are undecided.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is planning on installing cameras on all buses, subways and trolleys by 2013 in part to foil false injury claims. Other big cities such as New York, Washington, DC and Atlanta have heavily increased use of surveillance cameras in recent years as an anti-crime measure.

But less than half of adults (44%) think it’s a good idea to use cameras at traffic intersections to catch speeders and those who run red lights. The same number (44%) does not see cameras at intersections as a good thing. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.

(Want a free daily e-mail update ? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter  or Facebook .  

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 11-12, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

62% Say Personal Responsibility for Health More Important Than Health Insurance

While the health care debate continues to dominate the political landscape, most voters feel individual lifestyle choices play a bigger role than their level of medical care in determining how healthy someone is. But there’s a wide partisan gap on the question.

60% Think Politics Behind Awarding of Nobel Prizes

Most Americans still question the prestige of the Nobel Prizes and think politics plays a part in who wins them.

48% Think Apple Will Remain on Cutting Edge Despite Jobs’ Death

Most Americans hold a favorable opinion of Steve Jobs, Apple Computer’s co-founder and CEO who died last week, and nearly half think his company will remain a technological leader despite his passing.

61% Still Think U.S. Should Celebrate Columbus Day

Christopher Columbus is still generally regarded as the explorer who “discovered” America, and most Americans think the United States should remember him with a holiday. But they don’t rate Columbus Day, celebrated officially today, very high on the list of U.S. holidays.

Voters Still View U.S. Race Relations As A Mixed Bag

Voters of all races nationwide continue to view relations between whites, blacks and Hispanics as a work in progress.

11% Think Amanda Knox Is Guilty of Murder

Very few Americans believe Amanda Knox is guilty of murdering her flatmate in Italy four years ago, and a plurality feels the media played an important part in overturning her conviction.

46% Plan To Get Flu Shot This Year, 48% Don't

Flu season is upon us again, but less than half of Americans nationwide plan to get a flu shot this year. Over a quarter of adults say they are less likely to get one because of the mildness of last year’s season.

Phillies Are Favorite To Win World Series, Most Fans Rooting Against Yankees

With less than a week to go before the end of the 2011 regular season, the Philadelphia Phillies are the odds-on favorite to win this year’s World Series.

48% Give Positive Marks to Government Response to Irene

Hurricane Irene didn’t hit the East Coast of the United States nearly as hard as was initially projected, but Americans give the government and the media generally good marks for not taking any chances.

For 17%, Labor Day Is One of the Top Holidays

Only a small percentage of Americans consider Labor Day one of the nation’s biggest holidays, and most celebrate it as the unofficial end of summer rather than a recognition of union workers.

Just 33% Took A Summer Vacation This Year

Fewer adults took a summer vacation this year, and half of those that did had to cut back for economic reasons.

72% Went to a Cookout This Summer

So what did Americans do this summer?

69% Concerned About Economic Impact Of Hurricane Irene

While Hurricane Irene did less damage than originally predicted, Americans nationwide still are concerned about the hurricane’s impact on the struggling U.S. economy.

81% Following Hurricane Irene, 63% Like News Coverage

Most Americans closely followed news about Hurricane Irene as it neared our shores and give good marks to the media coverage of threatening bad weather.

35% Say They’re Overweight

While most Americans say they are not overweight now, over half admit to dieting at one point in their life.

74% Say Americans Watch Too Much TV

Earlier this month, a new study made headlines by suggesting that every hour spent watching television after age 25 will shorten a person’s lifespan by 22 minutes. While just over half of adults admit to watching TV every day or nearly everyday, they overwhelmingly believe that Americans in general watch the tube too much.

26% Say U.S. Public Schools Provide World-Class Education

While most adults agree with President Obama that a world-class education is the most important factor in the success of America’s children and status in the world, most don’t think U.S. public schools provide that level of education.

18% Predict Super Bowl Win For New England Patriots

After a contentious labor dispute between team owners and players that lasted more than 18 weeks, football is back. While the regular season doesn’t begin until September, the New England Patriots are the Super Bowl favorites heading into the 2011 season.