Dealers seeking to enhance consumer awareness about vehicle safety and entertainment features may be interested in reviewing a recent CAA survey about distracted driving in Ontario.
The survey, conducted on behalf of CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO), found that 44 per cent of drivers in the province admitted to driving distracted at one point — up 4 per cent from 2022. “Anything that can divert a driver’s eyes and mind off the road will always pose a threat while driving,” said Teresa Di Felice, Assistant Vice President for CAA SCO, in a statement.
She added that, while most drivers recognize fines and penalties as effective ways to cut down on distracted driving, “our data shows that drivers have become less supportive of penalties that currently exist for distracted driving convictions.” Which is perhaps why many consumers in Ontario (57 per cent) support increasing fines and implementing stricter penalties.
The report points to 63 per cent of consumers having witnessed a close-call collision or traffic violation caused by distracted drivers. That number is up four per cent from 2022, while 12 per cent of drivers have been involved in a collision specifically due to distracted driving — and in many cases, because of their mobile device.
Holding a mobile device, typing in a destination, making a video call, and watching TV are some of the most concerning distractions. New vehicles are equipped with a range of features that serve as safety measures for these types of distractions, but not every consumer is aware of these features.
