THORNHILL, ON, Aug. 1, 2024
/CNW/ - A recent study on dangerous driving conducted by CAA
South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) revealed that more than half
of Ontario motorists, 55 per cent,
admit to engaging in risky and unsafe driving behaviours in the
past year. According to the survey, this number increases to 61 per
cent amongst young drivers aged 18 to 34.
"Dangerous driving behaviours, such as speeding, distracted
driving, and aggressive driving, continue to pose significant
risks on our roads," says Michael
Stewart, community relations consultant for CAA
SCO. "These actions not only endanger the lives of the drivers
themselves but also put all road users at risk. We must prioritize
road safety by promoting responsible driving habits."
Of those surveyed, the top five dangerous driving behaviours
that motorists engaged in are,
- Speeding (41 per cent)
- Distracted driving (20 per cent)
- Unsafe lane changes (9 per cent)
- Aggressive driving (8 per cent)
- Running red lights (7 per cent)
In contrast, those surveyed say they frequently witnessed others
driving dangerously far more often.
- Speeding (84 per cent)
- Unsafe lane changes (76 per cent)
- Aggressive driving (76 per cent)
- Distracted driving (73 per cent)
- Running red lights (56 per cent)
"The data tells us that it is far more prevalent for people to
see others driving dangerously rather than admitting that they
themselves are carrying out the same behaviour," adds Stewart.
The survey found that speeding continues to be the leading
concern for Ontario motorists,
especially on roads with higher speed limits.
According to the study, 86 per cent of motorists feel safe
on residential streets, compared to only 68 per cent on posted
110-kilometre-per-hour highways.
"Ontarians frequently witness dangerous driving behaviours,
especially on highways," says Stewart, "the important thing to
remember is that the risk of collision can increase when travelling
at higher speeds."
Four out of 10 Ontario drivers will actively
avoid roads with ASE
Ontario drivers favour stricter
fines and penalties to combat the increasing amount of dangerous
driving across the province. This year alone, 35 per cent of
Ontarians indicated that penalties and fines for speeding and stunt
driving have influenced their driving behaviour – up seven per cent
from last year.
The study also found that more than three-quarters of
Ontario drivers (78 per cent)
believe that automated speed enforcement (ASE) can help deter
drivers from speeding, as 70 per cent of Ontario drivers admit that they will slow down
in the presence of an ASE camera.
"It is no surprise that Ontario
motorists are in favour of stricter penalties as speeding and
dangerous driving continue to be an issue," says Stewart, "what is
surprising, however, is that despite the support for ASE, four out
of 10 Ontario drivers will actively avoid roads where an ASE is
present, an increase from last year."
According to the survey, Ontarians support the presence of ASE
on all types of streets, especially near schools (84 per cent) and
community centres (81 per cent). A total of 17 per cent of
Ontario drivers, equivalent to
more than 1.5 million individuals, have received a ticket from an
ASE camera in the past.
"CAA SCO continues to advocate for road safety for all road
users," says Stewart. "Our hope is that through education and
awareness of the repercussions, we can begin to see a steady
decrease in dangerous driving across all roads."
For more information, please visit www.caasco.com/speeding
The online survey
was conducted by DIG Insights from April
1 to April 16, 2024, with 1,509 Ontario drivers aged 18
and older. Based on the sample size of n=1,509 and with a
confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for this
research is +/- 2%.)
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About CAA South Central Ontario
As a leader and advocate for road safety and mobility, CAA South
Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club which represents the
interests of over 2.5 million Members. For over a century, CAA has
collaborated with communities, police services and governments to
help keep drivers and their families safe while travelling on our
roads.
SOURCE CAA South Central Ontario