The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is conducting a survey to determine whether state residents are practicing safe driving behavior.

This is a good idea, although the study’s methodology could provide hit-or-miss results.

PennDOT’s annual Highway Safety Survey questions drivers on everything from whether they use a seat belt or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol to speeding and using mobile devices while behind the wheel.

Last year, more than 6,000 people took part in the survey, in which 91 percent of participants claimed they always wore a seat belt, while 88 percent noted that they never drove while impaired.

On top of that, 67 percent of respondents to the survey said they never make phone calls or use electronic devices for other purposes while driving, but instead use hands-free devices.

While all of this information sounds useful for PennDOT, which intends to use feedback from the survey to learn more about Pennsylvanians’ driving behaviors, the catch is that the survey is anonymous — including all responses to questions and provided comments.

While the mask of anonymity could allow responders to be more honest because they could answer without fear of reprisal, anonymous surveys also pose problems of validity.

Recent years have seen the release of state and national reports that included disturbing figures.

A study late last year by the Pennsylvania DUI Association found that 28 accidents involving alcohol occurred each day in 2017, resulting in more than 10,300 alcohol-related crashes.

Eighteen percent of fatal crashes involving drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 were DUIs.

Over Easter weekend this year, a report from the Pennsylvania State Police noted that driving under the influence was up by 10 percent — from 359 incidents in 2018 to 396 this year.

Another 2017 study — this one by the Harris Poll — found that 71 percent of Americans admitted to using their phones while driving. Of those respondents, 93 percent said they were talking on their phones, while 60 percent said they were sending texts and 56 percent admitted to checking notifications.

Lastly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported during that same year that 3,166 people died from distracted driving, such as making phone calls, sending texts, eating or drinking, talking to passengers or trying to use a vehicle’s navigation or entertainment systems.

Either Pennsylvania bucks national trends by a long shot or all responders to PennDOT’s survey aren’t being completely honest. We applaud PennDOT for conducting surveys to determine whether the state’s drivers are taking part in safe practices behind the wheel, but we also hope they are utilizing other resources of observation. Nothing less than the public’s safety is riding on it.