Majority of Canadian Drivers Confess to Bad Behaviour Behind the Wheel

Kanetix.ca survey finds speeding is the most confessed bad habit

TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - A new survey from Kanetix.ca finds that more than 75 per cent of Canadians admit to bad driving behavior, with speeding being the most confessed bad habit.

"While our study shows that most of us are guilty of bad driving behaviours, what's particularly interesting is the consequences of this aggression," said Janine White, Vice President, Marketplaces at Kanetix.ca "Receiving a ticket, getting into a collision, or worse – all which inevitably lead to car insurance hikes, is risky and costly, and just not worth it in the end."

What are Canadians guilty of doing behind the wheel?

• Over half (58 per cent) are guilty of speeding, down about two per cent from 2012, when Kanetix.ca first conducted this study.
• Using profanity out of frustration with traffic or delays is the second most common bad habit (31 per cent)
• Following too closely behind other vehicles (22 per cent)
• Displaying hostile hand gestures towards other drivers is also a common bad behavior, along with yelling at another driver (19 per cent)
• Drivers also admit to: cutting people off (13 per cent); weaving in and out of traffic (8 per cent); honking excessively at other drivers (7 per cent), and chasing or tailgating other drivers (7 per cent)
• Generally, men are more likely to engage in these behaviours, while Quebec residents are least likely to do so.

Provincial Breakdown:

• Eighty per cent of Albertans admit to bad driving behaviour, with two-thirds saying they speed
• Ontarians are the same – eight in 10 admit to bad driving behaviour, again, speeding is the most common
• Quebec residents are the least likely to admit to any bad driving habits (68 per cent vs. 79 per cent for the rest of Canada,). Twenty-five per cent of Quebec drivers claim they are a perfect driver.

While Canadians show marginal improvements, bad driving behaviours remain largely unchanged from three years ago. The only habit that saw a significant drop was the use of profanity out of frustration with traffic or delays, which fell from 39 per cent to 31 per cent, an interesting observation considering traffic congestion is generally increasing across Canada.

"One ticket can have a significant negative impact on your car insurance premiums," said Janine White. "Become a calmer and safer driver – it will save you and your money."

About the Survey
A survey of 1426 Canadian drivers was completed online between July 13 and 16, 2015 using Leger's online panel, LegerWeb.

A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About KANETIX®
Launched in October 1999, KANETIX was Canada's first online insurance marketplace and today provides over a million quotes per year to consumers looking for insurance, as well as comparisons for mortgage rates and credit cards.

The KANETIX.ca comparison service is a one-stop shopping environment for consumers. Each day, thousands visit the KANETIX website to comparison shop their various financial needs. Shoppers choose what they want to compare, obtain a quotation and complete an online application or, with the help of KANETIX connect with the provider to purchase or apply for the product over the phone.

Through its Software as a Service team, KANETIX is also the leading provider of online insurance quotation technology, developing online quotation systems, mobile solutions, actuarial tools and websites for many of Canada's largest insurance brands.

SOURCE Kanetix

For media inquiries, please contact: Jamie Sanders, [email protected], 416-929-7740