REGINA — Canadians are deeply alarmed about speeding in neighbourhoods and on highways, even as a sizeable number admit to doing it themselves, according to polling by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).
Nearly nine in 10 Canadians (88 per cent) say they are deeply worried about speeding in residential areas, while one in five (22 per cent) admit to doing it at least sometimes, CAA’s polling found. Meanwhile, speed-related collisions are on the rise, accounting for a quarter of fatal collisions in the last year for which federal government data is available.
“Canadians are right to be alarmed about speeding,” says Ian Jack, vice-president, public affairs, CAA National. “Speed-related collisions are preventable. That is why CAA is asking Canadians to slow down in 2024 and keep everyone safe.”
According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, travelling even 10 km/hr over the speed limit increases the likelihood of a collision by 60 per cent, while saving the average driver only four minutes on a trip.
“Speed limits are posted for ideal weather, but we know that weather and road conditions can certainly change quickly, especially in the winter months,” says Christine Niemczyk, director, corporate communications with CAA Saskatchewan. “Please be alert and be ready to adjust your driving behaviour. We should all really try to respect the speed limit or slow down to ensure the safety of all.”
CAA asked Canadians to list the top dangerous driving behaviours they admit to doing. The top five included: speeding on the highway (45 per cent), engaging with technology in their car (32 per cent), speeding in residential zones (22 per cent), driving well over the speed limit (19 per cent), and driving when too tired (18 per cent).
The latest CAA findings are based on a poll of 2,503 Canadians (165 from Saskatchewan) carried out from October 20 to 30, 2023. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-2%.
