The impact of distractions on the Canadian driver

Distracted Driving We've all done at least one of these things while driving and some of us do them daily: put on make-up, shave, flip through songs, text message, or use your cell phone. Even though you know to 'keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel', you've multi-tasked before without incident so why worry now - right?

Studies, upon studies, have shown there is reason to worry and it's why KANETIX.ca invites you to learn more about distracted driving. Visit our #DistractedtoDeath campaign page and take the pledge to not drive distracted. In exchange for your vow to be a safer driver, we'll donate $1 to helping educate teens on distracted driving.

Distracted Driving Study Statistics

  • A 2007 study from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) found that both novice and experienced drivers were slower to detect hazards while distracted.
  • In an Alberta Transportation and Infrastructure Report, it's estimated that approximately one-in-four collisions involve driver distraction.
  • Ontario's Ministry of Transportation suggests that when drivers take their eyes off the road for more than two seconds their crash risk doubles.
  • CAA points out that your likelihood of crashing or being in a near crash event is 23 times more likely if texting, 9 times more likely if reaching for a moving object, 4-5 times more likely if talking on a cell phone, 3 times more likely if reading, applying make-up or dialing a phone number on a hand-held device, and 1.3 times more likely if having a conversation on a hand-held device.

How Canadians Feel About Distracted Driving

A 2014 Kanetix.ca survey, suggests Canadians are open to the idea that certain components of distracted driving should be a criminal offence:

  • 84 per cent feel texting while driving should be a criminal offence;
  • 76 per cent feel personal grooming, like applying make-up should be; and
  • 73 per cent agreed just using your phone should be as well.

Yet, according to another KANETIX.ca poll approximately 8 in 10 Canadian motorists confess to regularly having at least one bad habit while driving, including eating, drinking, talking or text messaging, putting on make-up and routinely taking their eyes off the road.

Ready to finally break the habit? Try one, or both, of these distracted driving simulators to see how distracted driving affects your driving skills:

The Benefits Of Avoiding Distractions While Driving

Obviously safety is paramount, but there are also financial benefits for not driving distracted. By focusing on your driving and keeping your record clean, you have a better chance of keeping your insurance premium from rising - which will likely happen if you are in an at-fault collision.

See for yourself. Car insurance quotes from competing insurance companies were obtained online in August 2014, 2014 from KANETIX.ca. Using a 35-year old driver of a 2012 Toyota Corolla in Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax, the best priced auto insurance quote was recorded for this driver with no tickets or crashes, and then again with one at-fault collision.

City Clean driving record Driver with an at-fault collision
Calgary $959 $1216
Toronto $1424 $1944
Halifax $798 $1208

See How Much An At-Fault Will Affect Your Rates

Get car insurance quotes at KANETIX.ca and enter that you have an at-fault accident to see how much your premium might be - pick a likely scenario like we did, like "you rear-ended another vehicle" and finish the quote (it's easy.) Then, modify your details to represent your true driving history. You'll see how much, by not driving distracted and getting in a crash, you will save.

You'll also likely discover that you could be saving money on your own auto insurance premiums. After all, once you enter in your real driving history you'll see real quotes from top Canadian insurers. In just a few minutes, you'll see if you could be paying less for your car insurance.

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