Canada's Worst Driving Habits

Study shows Canadians feel bad driving habits are rampid

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Next time you find yourself in a fit of rage reaching out the window of your car to one-finger salute the driver ahead of you while screaming expletives at him, keep in mind three out of four Canadians find you to have an annoying habit.

In a recent study by the Canadian Automobile Association they found that about 75 per cent of Canadians find driver’s bad habits have become worse in the last five years. Twenty-one per cent said drivers exhibit the same amount as before while only two per cent feel it has been getting better.

The top five bad habits mentioned were the usual suspects, such as road rage at 86 per cent, cutting people off at 86 per cent, texting while driving at 85 per cent, following to closely at 78 per cent and talking on the phone at 78 per cent,

The poll consisted of 5, 044 Canadians and considered accurate to within 1.38 per cent 19 times out of 20.

Stewart Brookins of Safe Drivers P.E.I. agrees with the study.

“I teach driver’s ed. obviously, so I see a lot of (bad habits).”

Brookins said he notices cell phone usage the most, especially texting.

“I see it probably three or four times a week at least and that would be the texting.”
He said it’s not always just the young drivers that are doing the texting.

“I’m actually seeing lots of middle aged drivers doing it just the same, so I wouldn’t say the kids anymore than the adults.”

Brookins said it does make him nervous to see people driving with bad habits like texting.

“It’s beyond my control, I just drive defensively at the end of the day.”

Gary Howard, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for CAA said in a press release that it shows Canadian’s driving habits are getting progressively worse but there is a silver lining.

“The good news is these are all correctible behaviors. If we concentrate more on good driving habits and on being courteous to fellow motorists, we will all benefit.”