CAA Poll: 55% of Ontarians Admit to Driving Dangerously
According to a recent study conducted by Campaign Research on behalf of the CAA South Central Ontario, 55 per cent of Ontario drivers admit to engaging in unsafe driving. Speeding, distracted driving (which includes texting or scrolling through Instagram feed or TikTok videos), switching lanes when it’s not time to switch lanes and just plain ol’ aggressive driving are the most popular acts.
On top of that, 95 per cent of all participants say they have witnessed dangerous driving from other motorists.
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Ignorance of the law has also affected the results – many responders weren’t aware of the extent of their acts. The survey also identified that 24 per cent of Ontario drivers are aware of all the offences that account for stunt driving – and were not aware that what they have been doing is wrong.
"Many motorists think stunt driving is just a combination of excessive speeding and doing reckless tricks, but it also includes aggressive behaviours such as road rage and weaving through traffic," said Raymond Chan, manager of government relations at CAA SCO. "These reckless actions behind the wheel can have serious consequences and should never occur on our roads, especially in residential areas and community safety zones."
More Penalties to Come
Under the Moving Ontarians More Safely (MOMS) Act, drivers will now face longer vehicle impoundments and may be charged, as of July 1st, with stunt driving when travelling in excess of 40km/h on roads where the posted speed limit is under 80 km/h. Drivers who exceed an 80 km/h speed limit by 50 km/h or more will also be charged with stunt driving.
The provincial has further penalties in store starting in Fall 2021, including longer licence suspensions and new escalating sanctions for repeat offenders.
"When you engage in stunt driving, it could cost you your driver's licence, your car, and most importantly, your life or the lives of others," said Chan. "As we continue to see increased pedestrian and cycling traffic during the summer months, our hope is that tougher penalties will curb driver impulse to drive dangerously and help contribute to safer roads for everyone."
According to the survey, 74 per cent agree that stricter penalties and increased fines for stunt driving would contribute to awareness and discourage drivers from driving dangerously.
