Distracted driving remains a prevalent issue in Canada as a new survey reveals an increase in crashes due to distraction.
According to Travelers Canada’s 2023 Distracted Driving Survey, 30% of respondents admitted to being involved in an accident due to their own distraction, up 50% from the previous year.
In addition, 25% reported a “near miss” because they were distracted, which is a 56% jump from last year.
Paul Stone, vice president of personal insurance, sales, distribution & marketing with Travelers Canada, called these results a reflection of the country’s on-going problem with distracted driving.
“The results of this year’s survey support what many of us see while we are on the road – more people are driving distracted,” he said.
The survey, which involved over a thousand Canadians aged 18 to 69, also found that nearly one-quarter of respondents recognized the dangers of multitasking while driving but did so anyway.
Unsurprisingly, the use of electronic devices was identified as a major distraction among Canadian drivers.
According to the survey, 63% of respondents admitted that they talk on the phone (hands-free) or use hands-free technology while behind the wheel.
Furthermore, 56% reported looking at a map or following directions on an electronic device, while 48% admitted to holding a phone to make or receive calls. Reading text messages or emails while driving was another distraction reported by 21% of respondents.
Still, using electronic devices wasn’t the only major source of distraction identified by the survey, as 58% of respondents reported frequently or occasionally eating or drinking while driving.
The Travelers Canada survey also found stress and emotional strain to be significant factors contributing to risky driving behaviours.
A major stressor for 78% of respondents is watching the behaviours of other drivers, including distracted driving.
Traffic came out as the second most significant stressor, reported by 62% of respondents. Other sources of stress for drivers include finding a parking location (49%), looking for and/or following directions (43%), and behaviours of passengers in the vehicle (34%).
Meanwhile, nearly one-in-six (16%) Canadian drivers reported crying or experiencing intense emotions while driving, with younger drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 being the most likely to report this.
In light of these results, Travelers Canada concluded that creating a safer driving culture will require a collective effort.
“Safe roads are not just a matter of chance, but a collective responsibility, and acknowledging the prevalence of risky driving behaviours is the first step towards creating a safer driving culture,” said Stone.
According to the survey, 90% of respondents said they would be less likely to use a device while driving if a passenger asked them to stop.
Workplace policies could also help reduce risk, the study noted, but only 17% of employed Canadians reported that their workplace had an official policy against sending or receiving work-related phone calls, texts or emails while driving. Nevertheless, nearly all of those who did have such a policy in place (93%) said they always or usually follow it.
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