BRAUN: Canadians fail to live up to polite reputation on the road
Author of the article:Liz Braun
Publishing date:May 11, 2021 • 3 hours ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
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Are Canadian drivers getting ruder?
A survey from InsuranceHotline.com shows that many Canadians are getting hot under the collar while sitting behind the wheel.
Despite a reputation for kindness and good manners, the 1,500 Canadians polled in the survey admitted to all kinds of angry antics on the road — honking, speeding, tailgating, making rude gestures, and hollering, just for starters.
But here’s the strangest statistic from the survey: 95% of respondents admitted to road-rage-like behaviour.
And yet 94% of the same people perceive themselves to be courteous drivers.
Go figure.
Insurancehotline.com calls it a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation.
Admittedly, the Leger survey involved was done at the beginning of April — just when Canadians realized they were in for a very bad COVID-19 third wave.
Still, lockdown frustration can’t explain some findings.
About three in 10 drivers (28%), for example, have thought about doing something rash behind the wheel, such as throwing something at another driver or car, physical confrontation, or following someone for a while in order to scare them.
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Drivers under the age of 35 (38%) were more likely to admit to these thoughts than those 35 or older (25%).
Men (35%) admit to these dark thoughts more than women (21%).
Worse yet, 14% of hotheads got mad enough to actually act on such aggressive thoughts. This behaviour is mostly young and male, with drivers under the age of 35 about twice as likely to act on their impulses as those over 35.
Anne Marie Thomas, an insurance expert at InsuranceHotline.com, wants drivers to remember it’s just not worth it.
All this bad behaviour on the roads, she figures, is due to frustration, “And that translates into bad behaviour.”
Thomas was most surprised by the statistic that says 28% of drivers have been angry enough to think about doing something impulsive.
“The moral of that story is tread with caution! You don’t know who you’re sharing the road with or what kind of day they’re having.”
So hold back on honking or giving someone the finger — angry acts can quickly become full-on road rage. “It can escalate quickly,” said Thomas.
She saw that first hand recently, as two men leaped out of their cars and engaged in a fistfight in the roadway.
Aggressive or dangerous driving is not taken lightly by police, and getting charged is going to cost you at insurance renewal time.
“We already don’t like paying the premium. Why risk paying even more? Some people see a 100% increase in their premium for dangerous driving.
“People don’t think about their driving behaviour and their insurance rates and they should — there’s a direct correlation. The penalties are severe.”
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The Insurancehotline.com survey offers a couple of tips for staying calm behind the wheel, and the first one is to give yourself plenty of time to get places. Being late is stressful.
It’s useful to map your journey beforehand — again, less stress when you know where you’re going — and other advice includes treating fellow drivers with respect and not reacting to aggression.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Durham Regional Police.
Car hits motorist in road rage incident: Police
Driver with road rage reflected in wing mirror.
ROAD RAGE: 'We've seen so many cases,' says cop
It’s better not to make rude gestures, as well.
Given her extensive experience in the insurance business, does Thomas have any advice for those who are hotheads behind the wheel? Indeed she does:
“Take the bus.”
Conducted April 2-4, the survey of 1,522 Canadians is considered accurate within 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Liz Braun
Publishing date:May 11, 2021 • 3 hours ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Article content
Are Canadian drivers getting ruder?
A survey from InsuranceHotline.com shows that many Canadians are getting hot under the collar while sitting behind the wheel.
Despite a reputation for kindness and good manners, the 1,500 Canadians polled in the survey admitted to all kinds of angry antics on the road — honking, speeding, tailgating, making rude gestures, and hollering, just for starters.
But here’s the strangest statistic from the survey: 95% of respondents admitted to road-rage-like behaviour.
And yet 94% of the same people perceive themselves to be courteous drivers.
Go figure.
Insurancehotline.com calls it a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation.
Admittedly, the Leger survey involved was done at the beginning of April — just when Canadians realized they were in for a very bad COVID-19 third wave.
Still, lockdown frustration can’t explain some findings.
About three in 10 drivers (28%), for example, have thought about doing something rash behind the wheel, such as throwing something at another driver or car, physical confrontation, or following someone for a while in order to scare them.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Drivers under the age of 35 (38%) were more likely to admit to these thoughts than those 35 or older (25%).
Men (35%) admit to these dark thoughts more than women (21%).
Worse yet, 14% of hotheads got mad enough to actually act on such aggressive thoughts. This behaviour is mostly young and male, with drivers under the age of 35 about twice as likely to act on their impulses as those over 35.
Anne Marie Thomas, an insurance expert at InsuranceHotline.com, wants drivers to remember it’s just not worth it.
All this bad behaviour on the roads, she figures, is due to frustration, “And that translates into bad behaviour.”
Thomas was most surprised by the statistic that says 28% of drivers have been angry enough to think about doing something impulsive.
“The moral of that story is tread with caution! You don’t know who you’re sharing the road with or what kind of day they’re having.”
So hold back on honking or giving someone the finger — angry acts can quickly become full-on road rage. “It can escalate quickly,” said Thomas.
She saw that first hand recently, as two men leaped out of their cars and engaged in a fistfight in the roadway.
Aggressive or dangerous driving is not taken lightly by police, and getting charged is going to cost you at insurance renewal time.
“We already don’t like paying the premium. Why risk paying even more? Some people see a 100% increase in their premium for dangerous driving.
“People don’t think about their driving behaviour and their insurance rates and they should — there’s a direct correlation. The penalties are severe.”
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The Insurancehotline.com survey offers a couple of tips for staying calm behind the wheel, and the first one is to give yourself plenty of time to get places. Being late is stressful.
It’s useful to map your journey beforehand — again, less stress when you know where you’re going — and other advice includes treating fellow drivers with respect and not reacting to aggression.
Durham Regional Police.
Car hits motorist in road rage incident: Police
Driver with road rage reflected in wing mirror.
ROAD RAGE: 'We've seen so many cases,' says cop
It’s better not to make rude gestures, as well.
Given her extensive experience in the insurance business, does Thomas have any advice for those who are hotheads behind the wheel? Indeed she does:
“Take the bus.”
Conducted April 2-4, the survey of 1,522 Canadians is considered accurate within 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
BRAUN: Canadians fail to live up to polite reputation on the road
Are Canadian drivers getting ruder?