Nearly One Half (47%) of Canadian Drivers Admits to
Driving While Distracted, Driving on Auto-Pilot (45%)
Seven in ten (72%) Canadians admit to performing some task in the car which could lead them to be distracted, led by 79% of respondents in Saskatchewan or Manitoba (Quebecers at 65% are least likely to say so). Chief among them is eating or drinking (61% total), although four in ten (43%) say they have been guilty of singing or dancing while driving. Just two in ten (17%) confess to talking or texting on a cellphone while driving, while fewer admit to doing their hair, makeup or changing clothes (5%), reading a book or newspaper (3%) or taking `selfies' (3%) while behind the wheel. Older people aged 55+are least likely to have done nearly all of these activities while driving (66%) when compared to those aged 18 to 34 (73%) or 35 to 54 (77%). Young adults aged 18-34, however, are most likely to admit using their phone while driving; with about a quarter (28%) admitting doing so.
And while 72% admit to one of these behaviours themselves, 87% say that they've seen other drivers committing at least one of these driving faux-pas. Interestingly, only 17% of drivers admit that they've used their phone while driving, but 80% have seen other drivers chit chatting on their phone or texting while driving. Other activities that drivers have witnessed include eating or drinking (68%), doing their hair, makeup or changing clothes (58%), singing or dancing (48%), reading a book or newspaper (36%), or taking `selfies' (28%) while driving.
It is interesting that most drivers have witnessed others using their phone while driving, given that 88% agree (66% strongly/22% somewhat) that `talking or texting on your cellphone while driving is just as dangerous as drinking and driving', while 12% `disagree' (6% strongly/7% somewhat) with this premise.
In fact, only three in ten (29%) of Canadians `agree' (6% strongly/23% somewhat) that it's okay to use their phone while at a red light', while seven in ten (71%) `disagree' (44% strongly/27% somewhat) that it is - however, 42% of 18 to 34 year olds drivers think it's okay, as do 39% of Albertans and 35% of males. Further, only 18% of drivers are rather cavalier about the situation, `agreeing' (3% strongly/15% somewhat) that they are `a great multi-tasker, so it's no problem' for them to do something else while they're driving. Eight in ten (82%) disagree (49% strongly/33% somewhat) with this notion.
Given the wide use of cellphones, other technology and potential distractions on the road, it's perhaps not surprising that 92% of drivers `agree' (62% strongly/31% somewhat) that `distracted driving is a growing problem on Canada's roads', while few (8%) `disagree' (2% strongly/6% somewhat) that it is.
Fourteen percent (14%) of drivers say that they've done something while on the road that has caused them to be distracted and nearly in a collision which they avoided, including 22% of drivers under the age of 35 and 18% of males, while 7% of drivers say they've done something that caused them to be distracted and actually resulted in a collision, led by 10% of Quebecers.
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between April 29th to May 1st, 2015 on behalf of RBC Insurance. For this survey, a sample of 1,005 adults (with a driver's license) from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/ - 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian drivers been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Sean Simpson
Vice President
Ipsos Public Affairs
(416) 572-4474
[email protected]
About Ipsos in Canada
Ipsos is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos' marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry.
With offices in 87 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media, customer loyalty, marketing, public affairs research, and survey management.
Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.
Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,669.5 ($2,218.4 million) in 2014.
Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos' offerings and capabilities.
