Sep 16, 2026
More than two-thirds of Canadians (68%) confess they regularly see aggressive driving on the road, and nearly half admit they've driven while stressed or exhausted, according to a new national survey from Desjardins Insurance.
The survey, which polled close to 4,000 Canadians in 2026, points to a driving environment shaped less by any single bad habit than by several pressures stacking up on the same drive — distraction, fatigue and aggression, often all at once.
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“Road safety is about more than individual behaviour, it's shaped by the conditions drivers face every day,” said Valérie Lavoie, president and chief operating officer of Desjardins General Insurance Group, in a statement.
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Increasingly dangerous behaviour behind the wheel — factors that road safety experts say can affect decision-making and reaction times — aren’t isolated to Canada’s roadways, but can also impact household budgets.
What's really distracting Canadian drivers behind the wheel
Six in 10 Canadians ranked distracted driving among the country's biggest road safety risks, but the survey suggests the biggest distractions aren't necessarily inside the vehicle.
External distractions, such as traffic, pedestrians and activity outside the vehicle, were cited more often (35%) than cellphone use (32%). In-vehicle technology (26%) and everyday habits like eating or drinking behind the wheel (22%) also ranked among the most common distractions.
The findings from Desjardins seem to align with broader road safety data. According to Transport Canada, distraction was a contributing factor in an estimated 17.8% of fatal collisions in 2023, while speeding contributed to 24.8% and impairment to 21.9%, underscoring how multiple risk factors often overlap on Canadian roads.
Separate figures from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, released in June 2026 with sponsorship from Desjardins, show speeding moving in the opposite direction of distraction. Road deaths involving at least one speeding driver climbed to 513 in 2023, up from 412 in 2019, and now account for close to a third (30.7%) of all traffic fatalities. Distraction-related deaths fell to 322 that year, a 24-year low.
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Canadians see the risks — but don't always slow down
The survey also revealed an interesting contradiction.
While 85% of respondents said speeding is a major road safety risk, 26% also said it's acceptable to exceed the posted speed limit.
Impairment was another dangerous factor. About 1 in 5 (19%) drivers reported regularly witnessing alcohol-impaired driving, while 1 in 4 (24%) said they frequently see drivers they believe are impaired by cannabis.
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To improve road safety, we need to look beyond any single behaviour, explains Lavoie.
“To make a real difference, we need to address this full reality, through stronger awareness, better education, and actions that help reduce risk on our roads,” she said.
What it means for your insurance bill
A speeding ticket, an at-fault collision or an impaired driving conviction doesn't just put other drivers at risk — it can also follow you straight to your next insurance policy renewal.
Insurers typically review a driver's record when calculating premiums, and a conviction can mean losing a claims-free discount on top of paying more in premiums for years after the conviction or ticket.
To help illustrate, here’s a breakdown of how infractions can cost you:
- Minor infractions: A single minor ticket, such as rolling through a stop sign or a a few kilometres over the speed limit, will erase your clean-record discount and raise your insurance premium by 10% to 20%.
- Major infractions: A single major violation — such as excessive speeding or distracted driving — can increase standard car insurance rates by 25% or more.
- Multiple violations: Accumulating two or more tickets can double your rate or label you a high-risk driver and put your in an insurance category where you are paying the highest rates.
For example, if a BC driver accumulates four or more points on their driving record, they’ll pay a driving demerit fee of $214, and get an increase to their annual car insurance premium. Accumulate six points and that same driver will pay a driving demerit fee of $300 to $367, in addition to a 25% or more increase in their car insurance costs.
Tips to help
To help avoid rate increases, here are a few habits that can help lower your risk of distracted or aggressive driving:
- Put your phone out of reach before you start driving, rather than trying to ignore it once you're on the road
- Build in extra travel time on stressful commutes so a few extra minutes in traffic don't tempt you to speed
- Skip the drive when you're overtired — a short delay costs far less than a collision, a ticket or a jump in your premium
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Steven Brennan is a freelance finance writer based in Vancouver, BC. He holds a BA and an MA from Maynooth University, Ireland. His work regularly appears at Canadian Mortgage Trends, Lowest Rates, Loans Canada and other Canadian and US brands, while also working as a ghostwriter for financial influencers.
