Almost all Canadians agree that texting while driving is unacceptable, but they’re still doing it in significant numbers, according to new poll results from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). The poll found that 90 per cent of Canadians say texting while driving is socially unacceptable. “We still need to close that gap between belief and behaviour,” says Jeff Walker, CAA vice president of public affairs. “But we are on the right track”.
Texting while driving emerged as a phenomenon just a few years ago. It is now illegal in all provinces but, as with other road safety issues such as seatbelt usage and drinking and driving, laws are only part of the equation. “The next step is to make texting and driving as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving, so Canadians actually stop doing it,” Walker says.
In the same poll, Canadians say they observed an average of six people texting while driving within the last month. Additionally, 22 per cent of Canadians admitted to reading or sending a text message while driving recently. The three most common reasons people cite for texting and driving are connecting with family, urgent personal matters and work, according to the poll.
Saskatchewan participants indicated that in the last 30 days, 5 per cent said they texted/emailed regularly while driving. Asked how many times they observed someone including themselves texting or emailing while driving in the past month; 14 per cent indicated they have done this or witnessed this more than 10 times, 21 per cent indicated 6 to 10 times, and 44 per cent advised 1 to 5 times. Regarding driver behaviour, in the past 30 days, 10 per cent of Saskatchewan participants, said they talked on a hand-held cell phone while they are driving; 49 per cent talk on a hands-free cell phone while they are driving; 10 per cent indicated they read or send a text message or email while they are driving; and 65 per cent try to avoid driving on a certain road because they feel it is dangerous.
CAA also asked Canadians to rank their top 10 road safety concerns. The poll found they are, in order: texting or emailing while driving; drinking and driving; drivers running red lights; speeding on residential streets; driving aggressively; sleepy drivers; driving after using illegal drugs; talking on cell phones while driving; driving well over the speed limit; and talking to or engaging with their in-car systems.
The results are based on a poll of 1,252 Canadians. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-2.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
