Unsafe driving behaviours in Ontario, speeding on the rise: survey
Ontario’s roads are becoming increasingly unsafe, a new survey by CAA South Central Ontario has found.
The study by DIG Insights determined 98 per cent of Ontario drivers surveyed witnessed unsafe driving behaviours in the past year, which is up three per cent from 2021.
It also showed that 72 per cent of drivers, six per cent fewer than in 2021, feel safe on our roads, especially on highways with speed limits of 100 kilometres per hour.
Further, 58 per cent of respondents admitted to engaging in dangerous driving behaviours, while 43 per cent of all Ontario drivers surveyed admitted to speeding. Seventeen per cent said they’ve driven distracted, eight per cent admitted to making unsafe lane changes, and six per cent have driven aggressively.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
One in three of the survey’s respondents also said they try to avoid roads that have photo radar, while 43 per cent admitted to accelerating after passing a photo radar camera.
“It can be nerve-wracking when you come across a driver who is behaving this way,” Michael Stewart, of CAA SCO, said in a release on Wednesday.
“If you do come across a speeding or aggressive driver, the best thing you can do is stay calm, focus on your driving and do not engage with the other driver."
Stewart encouraged drivers to safely pull over, if they can, and call 911 if someone is driving erratically or if they believe a driver’s behaviour could be an “immediate danger to others.”
Police services across Ontario continue to report significant amounts of speeding, stunt, and aggressive driving, issues that were significant even before the pandemic amplified awareness about these unsafe driving behaviours, Stewart noted.
“Traffic returning to pre-pandemic levels could be the reason why we’re seeing this increase in unsafe driving. Some drivers even admit to doing it themselves,” Stewart said.
He added that about half of respondents saw speeding as a “big problem” in Ontario. Aggressive driving, unsafely changing lanes, and distracted driving were also cited as considerable issues of concern. Most of the time, these behaviours are witnessed on higher-speed highways, he said.
In response to a rise in speeding and stunt driving, the Ontario government introduced the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act, which came into effect on July 1, 2021.
The MOMS act, as it’s known, brought legislative changes to driver's licence suspensions, vehicle impoundments, and other related penalties.
Some of the changes include stunt driving charges being applied to motorists who drive more than 40 kilometres over the posted speed limit on roadways that have a limit under 80 kilometres an hour, vehicle impoundments will move from seven to 14 days for racing and stunt driving, and increased penalties for those convicted of street racing and/or stunt driving.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.