More drivers feel unsafe driving in southern Ontario compared to 2021: survey
Posted June 29, 2022 7:52 pm.
It appears there’s an increased number of drivers feeling unsafe on roads this year.
According to a new study by DIG Insights, on behalf of CAA South Central Ontario, around 28 per cent of drivers now feel unsafe on 400-series highways, which is up six per cent compared to a year ago, and 98 per cent said they have witnessed dangerous driving.
CAA Spokesman, Michael Stewart, said these numbers should remind drivers to be a bit more defensive over the long weekend.
“Bit of a concern for us was that we did have 58 per cent of Ontario drivers who did admit to engaging in unsafe driving behaviours,” Stewart said.
He said the concerning self-reflection also extends to photo radar, “we have one in three Ontario drivers say they try to avoid roads that have photo radar and we also have 43 per cent that say once they pass that photo radar camera, they are accelerating again.”
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As for speeding, 43 per cent of respondents admitted to speeding, 17 per cent admitted to driving distracted, eight per cent said they’ve changed lanes unsafely, and six per cent said they’ve driven aggressively.
Stewart said one reason for the spike may simply be the increased traffic as more people return to work.
Ontario Provincial Police say fatalities are up 23 per cent on provincially patrolled highways this year — the lead factor— speeding and other kinds of aggressive driving.
