Canadians' Views on Trucking Safety on Canada's Highways
Clearly, Canadians are Concerned About a Number of Issues Regarding Tractor-Trailers
The poor maintenance and safety record of some trucking firms (41%), the consecutive hours that truck drivers are allowed to drive is too many (22%), and the increasing number of trucks on the road is leading to more congestion (15%) are among Canadians' greatest concerns with tractor-trailers on Canada's roads and highways.
Seven In Ten (72%) Canadians Say There is a Problem with the Number of Tractor-Trailer Trucks on Our Highways And Roads
Seven in ten (72%) Canadians think the number of tractor-trailer trucks on Canada's roads and highways is a problem. Three in ten (29%) say it is a major problem, while a plurality indicate that it is somewhat of a problem. Another 18 percent believe the numbers of tractor-trailers is not much of a problem, while only 9 percent say it's not at all a problem.
- Quebecers (84%) are more likely to indicate that there is a problem with the number of tractor-trailers on the road, while residents of BC (59%) and Alberta (54%) are less likely.
- As is true of most of the questions in this survey, concern regarding this issue increases along with the age categories.
While a Majority (57%) Believe Canada's Roads and Highways are Becoming "Less Safe"
Canadians continue to become more wary about our road and highway safety. Up another 3 points since 1998, 57 percent of Canadians say Canada's roads and highways are becoming less safe. In 1996 less than half (49%) believed the roads were becoming less safe.
Roughly one-third (36% -- compared to 35% in 1998 and 38% in 1996) of Canadians believe Canada's roads and highways are becoming safer. Finally, only 6 percent (compared to 9% in 1998 and 11% in 1996) believe the safety of Canada's roads and highways has remained the same.
- Residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (76%) are most likely to say that Canada's roads are less safe, while residents of Atlantic Canada are least likely (49%).
Four in Five (80%) Say the Number of Tractor-Trailer Trucks have Made Roads and Highways More Dangerous
Respondents were informed that the number of tractor-trailer trucks operating on Canadian roads has increased over the past five years (83% believed this to be the case before being informed) and asked whether this upward trend has made travel on Canadian roads and highways safer or more dangerous. In fact, four out of five respondents (80% - unchanged since 1998) believe travel has become more dangerous given this upward trend in the number of tractor-trailer trucks on Canadian roads and highways.
- Again, Quebecers (87%) are most likely to say that Canada's highways are becoming more dangerous as a result of the increasing number of tractor-trailer trucks, while residents of BC (70%) and Alberta (69%) are less likely.
Canadians Strongly Opposed to Larger Trailer Combinations
In this year's survey, Canadians were asked whether they favour or oppose allowing single tractors to pull a second 53-foot trailer behind the first one to create a twin 53-foot combination. An overwhelming majority (86%) of Canadians oppose the use of twin 53-foot combination trucks. Canadians have quite strong convictions about this issue as nearly seven in ten (67%) indicate that they strongly oppose allowing single tractors to pull a second 53-foot trailer behind the first one. A small group (12%) favour the use of these expanded trucks.
In addition, Canadians are nearly unanimous (93%) in their opposition to allowing single tractors to pull a third 28-foot trailer behind the first two trailers, to create a triple-trailer combination vehicle. Again, nearly all of those who are opposed, are strongly opposed (82%). Only 5 percent favour this proposal.
Canadians Believe an Increase in the Number of Hours on the Road will Increase Public Risk (83%) and Yield No Consumer Benefit (61%)
Most Canadians (83%) believe that increasing the legal driving limit will undermine road safety by increasing the public's risk of encountering large trucks driven by over-tired drivers (68% strongly agree). And, the majority (61%) disagree that increasing the legal driving limit will bring freight transportation costs down and will cut prices for consumers (31% strongly disagree).
Long hours Puts Too Much Stress on Drivers
Canadians are nearly unanimous (90%) in their belief that the long hours that truck drivers can be required to work, place too much stress on human beings (75% strongly agree).
Strong Support for Restricting Hours on Road for Truck Drivers
Provided with three different contexts, most Canadians favour restricting the number of hours that truck drivers can be on the roads.
In one scenario, respondents are told that Canadian truck drivers may now legally drive for 13 consecutive hours whereas in the United States, truck drivers are not allowed to drive for more than 10 consecutive hours. Identical to the results gleaned from the 1996 and 1998 studies, 86 percent continue to favour reducing the consecutive number of hours the truck drivers in Canada may drive to the American limit of 10 hours. A mere 14 percent oppose such a reduction. Two-thirds (66%) strongly favour reducing the number of consecutive hours that Canadian truck drivers spend on the road.
- Quebecers continue to be the most likely to want to see the hours reduced (92%).
In a second scenario, respondents are told the following: The Canadian government is now proposing that Canadian truck drivers to be able to legally drive for 14 hours. In the United States, it is now proposed that truck drivers not be allowed to drive for more than 12 consecutive hours. Again, Canadians overwhelmingly (83%) favour restricting the consecutive number of hours a truck driver in Canada may drive to the proposed American limit of 12 hours. Seventeen percent of Canadians are opposed to this restriction.
Respondents are also asked to provide their opinion on the possibility of increasing the total number of hours that a truck driver can work each week to 84 hours when the proposed American limit is 60 hours per week. A large majority (84%) say they are in favour of restricting the number of hours that a truck driver in Canada can work per week to the American limit of 60 hours (63% are strongly in favour).
Strong Support (78%) for Requiring On-Board Devices that Record Actual Driving Hours
Eight in ten (78%) Canadians favour a rule requiring that all big trucks be equipped with electronic devices to record actual driving hours. Half (50%) are strongly in favour, while one in five (21%) oppose the requirement of an on-board device.
This Angus Reid/CRASH (Canadians for Responsible and Safe Highways) poll was conducted by telephone between April 1st and 7th, 1998 among a representative cross-section of 1,504 Canadians.
These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflect that of the actual Canadian population according to the 1996 Census data.
With a Canada-wide sample of 1,504, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results are within +/-2.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice- President
Public Affairs
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900
