Are you running red lights when you're running late?
Despite the danger involved, a new report finds that over half of Canadians engage in reckless driving and that British Columbians are the second speediest drivers in the country.
According to the global comparison site Finder, an estimated 19.1 million adults (63% of Canadians) admit to dangerous driving habits. These habits include everything from speeding to running a red light, driving on the wrong side of the road to texting and even driving with their knees - yikes.
And while the list of dangerous habits is lengthy, the most common offence was people who snacked while driving. Nearly half of respondents (49%), admit to chowing down on the road. Here in B.C., engaging in this reckless act while land you a stiff $368 fine.
Eating while driving falls is considered a "distracted driving" penalty. Every ticket for distracted driving also adds four driver penalty points to your driving record. If you have four or more points at the end of a 12-month period, you pay a driver penalty point (DPP) premium. These premiums start at $252 and increase for every point you accumulate.
Speeding was the second most common offence, with a whopping 33% of Canadians admitting to their "leadfoot" tendencies.
After speeding, 21% of Canadians admit to driving while feeling sleepy, while another 21% say they forget to use their turn signal.
The study also finds that B.C. drivers are the second speediest after Albertans. B.C. drivers' top three reckless driving habits are eating (47%), speeding (39%) and failing to signal (24%).
Photo: FinderEighty-one percent of millennials admit to driving dangerously, which is the most of any age group. The report points out that "this is consistent with Transport Canada’s 2018 report that revealed Canadians aged 25 – 34 experienced by far the most fatalities and injuries resulting from auto collisions as compared to any other age group."
Generation X is the next most likely demographic to engage in risky driving behaviour (77%), followed by generation Z (75%), baby boomers (68%) and the silent generation (57%).
Leadfoots beware: 35 intersections in B.C. are now equipped with automatic speed ticketing cameras, 24/7.
In May 2019, the Government of British Columbia announced that it was cracking down on dangerous driving with a new automatic ticketing system in the summer. However, the system was slowly rolled out over time, with the first five activated in July 2019.
Since B.C. activated its first five automated speed enforcement cameras at the end of July 2019, the government notes that the program has issued more than 20,000 speeding tickets. According to a release, "The fastest ticketed vehicle clocked 174 km/h at a location where the posted speed limit is 80 km/h."
Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, has confirmed that automated speed enforcement equipment is now in place at all 35 planned Intersection Safety Camera (ISC) program sites and operating at 34 of them, on a 24/7 basis. Have a look at an interactive map of where they are located.
Finder’s latest study examined the self-reported behaviours of 1,200 Canadians (1,027 drivers). Find out more information, here.
