Drivers in Atlantic Canada are increasingly engaging in risky driving behaviors despite knowing the dangers.

According to the 2023 Travelers Canada Distracted Driving Risk Survey, 33 percent of Atlantic Canada drivers admit to participating in risky driving, a 9 percent increase from 2022.

Stressful factors such as the behavior of other drivers, traffic, finding parking, and passenger behavior contribute to this trend.

Paul Stone, Vice President of Distribution and Sales at Travelers Canada, says some of the findings of the survey are very concerning.

He says nine in ten drivers said they would change their behaviors if they or their loved ones were involved in an accident caused by distracted driving; nine out of ten drivers said they would drive less distractedly if they had children in the car. Stone states that it’s an issue that’s not getting better and people acknowledge that they would change if a certain situation occurred.

To address distracted driving, Stone suggest using the “do not disturb” function on phones, delegating technology tasks to passengers, utilizing hands-free technology for calls, planning routes and parking in advance, and encouraging passengers to speak up.