Winter weather, distracted driving a recipe for disaster for Canadians

Winter weather, distracted driving a recipe for disaster for Canadians | Insurance Business Canada

Motor & Fleet

Winter weather, distracted driving a recipe for disaster for Canadians

Ice and snow add to drivers’ stressors and sources of distraction

Motor & Fleet

By
Gia Snape

The combination of winter weather and distracting habits can spell disaster for Canadian drivers, who are being urged to ramp up their preparation and vehicle maintenance during the holiday travel season.

“Colder temperatures, snowy conditions, and desire to get somewhere and not be late – these are all contributing factors to the roads being less safe,” said Paul Stone (pictured), vice president, sales & distribution at Travelers Canada.

“The season comes with unique threats that can impact vehicles even when they’re not running. So, we need to get ahead of the challenges with the right precautions, preventive maintenance, and proper planning.”

Travelers Canada’s 2023 distracted driving risk survey found that Canadians continue to engage in risky behaviours behind the wheel, and increasingly view roads as unsafe.

Winter driving adds to stress for Canadian drivers

With more winter weather expected, reduced visibility from snowfall and icy streets can increase hazardous activity on the roads, making journeys especially taxing for drivers.

Coupled with longer drive times, these can add to the stressful activities that Canadian drivers named in Travelers Canada’s annual distracted driving risk survey, such as other drivers’ behaviour (78%) and traffic (62%). 

To help Canadians prepare for winter driving risks, Travelers Canada has shared some top safety tips:

Making sure vehicles are equipped with an ice scraper, snow shovel, and sand or road salt
Checking tires to determine whether it is time to replace them or if you need snow tires
Keeping windshield wipers in good condition and topping up your vehicle’s windshield fluid reservoir
Keeping your gas tank full so you can run your engine and stay warm in case you are stuck or stranded
Monitoring weather alerts and road conditions before driving
Clearing snow and ice off your car, including windows, mirrors, lights, reflectors, hood, roof and trunk
Reducing speed and keeping headlines when driving in poor road conditions and visibility

Stone emphasized that travel preparation is the key to eliminating stress during winter driving.

“Removing stressors is important. We’re all probably going to be travelling over the holiday period, so leaving with enough time is key,” he said. “In our survey, half of respondents stated that navigating parking lots is a stressor that causes distraction and makes them less capable drivers.

“If you’re going to the mall, pick a time when you think it will be a little quieter or go with a little bit more time if you know you have to look for a parking spot and don’t try and fight to get a spot near the door.”

Finally, while proper maintenance is important year-round, it can be especially important when dealing with extreme temperatures.

Are Canadians’ distracted driving habits worsening?

In Travelers Canada’s 2023 distracted driving risk survey, respondents admitted to engaging in the following driving distractions:

Talking on a phone hands-free or using hands-free technology (63%)
Eating or drinking (58%)
Looking at a map or following directions on an electronic device (56%)
Holding a phone to make or receive calls (48%)
Reading text messages or emails (21%)

According to the survey, Canadians have seen an uptick in crashes due to distraction, with 30% of drivers saying they have been involved in an accident due to their own distractions – a 50% increase from 2022.

In addition, 25% reported a “near miss” because they were distracted, a 56% jump from last year.

For Stone, the findings show that Canadians’ behaviours aren’t improving, even though many are aware of their distractedness.

“Three out of 10 drivers feel the driving is less safe today than a year ago, and that’s 36% increase from 2022,” he said.

“People know [distracted driving] is wrong. They know it’s an issue, but they’re not taking steps, and that’s why it’s so important to raise awareness of it.”

Stone urged drivers to take responsibility for their driving habits and help make the roads safer for everyone during the holidays.

“We want safe roads all year round, but especially this time of the year when people are coming together with friends and family,” he said.

What are your tips for safer driving during the winter? Tell us in the comments.

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