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MEDIA RELEASE: Drivers asked to stay alert and slow down as students prepare to return to school

Sep 3, 2020

3 min


COVID-19 has changed the way we do many things and, the return to school is no different. This year, children are being encouraged to walk and bike to school to support social distancing. In some parts of Ontario, the start of school is even being staggered, and some children may be doing a combination of in-person and distance learning. In addition, many children will be using masks that may obstruct their line of sight.


For these reasons, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) is reminding everyone to take extra caution this year while travelling through school zones.


“As students prepare to reunite with friends and classmates after a six-month hiatus, many might forget to take the extra precautions needed to stay safe. This means there is an even bigger responsibility to watch for children travelling to and from school,” says Raymond Chan, manager of government relations for CAA SCO.


Keeping our kids and neighbourhoods safe is a shared responsibility. That’s why this year, we are providing FREE “Slow Down Please” lawn signs to anyone living in South Central Ontario. When well-placed, these signs aim to make roads safer for children and those living in the community. Remember to check local bylaws before installing signs on private property. Anyone can pick up a maximum of two signs at any CAA Store, while quantities last.


Drivers can also use the following CAA tips to ensure they are staying safe in school zones.

  1. Make eye contact with children: With the excitement of back to school, anticipate that children may not easily see or hear your moving vehicle. Make eye contact with passing pedestrians and cyclists.
  2. Reduce traffic by walking: Incorporate a short walk into your commute to school. CAA encourages parents to park a block away and walk to school, if possible, to reduce congestion and make school zones safer.
  3. Slow down: Know the speed limit in your neighbourhood’s school zones and respect them.
  4. Watch for more school buses: Always stop for the buses’ flashing lights and wait for children to get safely on or off. Stay alert and watch for children or parents crossing the road when the bus moves on.
  5. Choose a safe spot to drop off and pick up your children from school: Follow your school’s rules and don’t park illegally, it can put your child’s safety at risk. Instead, use the designated drop off areas or consider a spot a bit farther away from school that is easily accessible and safe.


The above tips are crucial in maintaining a safe school zone. According to a CAA poll, nearly 25 per cent of drivers reported witnessing a near miss or collision in a school zone, more than half of which involved a child. The poll also revealed 70 per cent of Canadians said they have witnessed someone speeding in a school zone.


CAA also supports safety in school zones through the CAA School Safety Patrol program. CAA designed this program to protect, educate, and empower elementary school children on safe road-crossing practices. Our Ontario Road Safety Resource is a toolkit for teachers to educate Ontario youth about road safety.


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MEDIA RELEASE: CAA survey finds 98 per cent of Manitoba drivers have witnessed dangerous driving behaviours on Manitoba roads featured image

3 min

MEDIA RELEASE: CAA survey finds 98 per cent of Manitoba drivers have witnessed dangerous driving behaviours on Manitoba roads

Nearly all Manitoba drivers have witnessed dangerous driving on the roads in the past year, yet many do not believe they contribute to the problem, according to a new survey by CAA Manitoba. The findings show that 98 per cent of Manitoba drivers have observed dangerous driving behaviours, including speeding (83 per cent), distracted driving (75 per cent) and unsafe lane changes (74 per cent). However, 59 per cent admit they have engaged in at least one dangerous driving behaviour themselves, revealing a significant disconnect between what drivers see and how they assess their own actions behind the wheel. Most Drivers See Dangerous Behaviour, Fewer Admit to It “Most drivers can easily identify unsafe behaviour in others, but many don't recognize when they're doing it themselves,” says Ewald Friesen, manager, government and community relations, CAA Manitoba. “Improving road safety starts with honest self-reflection. Every driver has a role to play in making Manitoba roads safer.” Speeding remains the most common dangerous driving behaviour reported by Manitoba drivers. Four in 10 drivers admit to speeding, while more than one-third of those who speed say they regularly travel 10 to 19 km/h above the posted limit. The survey also found that 65 per cent of drivers say they slow down when they realize they are speeding, suggesting awareness can help influence behaviour. Distracted driving continues to be a major concern. According to a separate survey conducted by CAA Manitoba, nearly half of Manitoba drivers say they have been distracted while driving at some point, and 15 per cent report being involved in a collision caused by distracted driving. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of crash linked to distraction. In many cases, those affected were not the distracted drivers themselves, highlighting the broader consequences these behaviours can have on other road users. “Distracted driving is entirely preventable,” said Friesen. “Whether it's checking a notification, adjusting a device, eating, or grooming, by taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds, the consequences can be sudden and life-altering. Staying focused behind the wheel protects not only you, but everyone around you.” Drivers Support Stronger Enforcement and Penalties Manitobans strongly support enforcement measures aimed at improving road safety. The survey found that 88 per cent support current fines and penalties related to speeding, while 64 per cent believe stricter penalties would help discourage speeding. More than one-third of drivers say existing penalties have already influenced how they drive. As Manitobans prepare for the upcoming long weekend, CAA Manitoba is encouraging drivers to stay focused, alert and aware behind the wheel. For more information about road safety advocacy and research, visit caamanitoba.com/advocacy. Speeding and Dangerous Driving Behaviour Survey Methodology: The online survey was conducted by DIG Insights from March 10 to March 20, 2026, with 503 Manitoba drivers aged 18 and older. Based on the sample size of n=503 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for this research is +/- 3%.) Distracted Driving Survey Methodology: The online survey was conducted by DIG Insights from February 3 to February 13, 2026, with 500 Manitoba drivers aged 18 and older. Based on the sample size of n=500 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for this research is +/- 3%.)

MEDIA RELEASE: CAA survey finds 96 per cent of Ontario drivers have witnessed dangerous driving behaviours on Ontario roads featured image

3 min

MEDIA RELEASE: CAA survey finds 96 per cent of Ontario drivers have witnessed dangerous driving behaviours on Ontario roads

Nearly every Ontario driver has witnessed dangerous driving in the past year, yet many do not believe they contribute to the problem, according to a new survey from CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO). The survey found that 96 per cent of Ontario drivers have observed dangerous driving behaviours, including speeding (78 per cent), aggressive driving (69 per cent), unsafe lane changes (68 per cent) and distracted driving (67 per cent). However, only 57 per cent admit to engaging in at least one dangerous driving behaviour, revealing a disconnect between what drivers see on the road and how they assess their own actions. This number rises to 62 per cent among drivers aged 18 to 34. Most Drivers See Dangerous Behaviour, Fewer Admit to It “Most Ontario drivers can identify dangerous behaviours when they see them, but many don't realize they may be contributing to the problem themselves,” says Michael Stewart, community relations consultant, CAA South Central Ontario. “The good news is that small changes in driver behaviour can make a big difference. By slowing down, staying focused and making safe choices behind the wheel, we can help create safer roads for everyone.” Speeding remains the most common dangerous driving behaviour reported by Ontario drivers. More than one-third (38 per cent) admit to speeding, with more than half of those drivers say they typically travel 10 to 19 km/h above the speed limit. Even small increases in speed can significantly increase the likelihood and severity of collisions. Many drivers may not realize that fines increase depending on how far over the speed limit they are travelling and can be doubled in community safety zones. Encouragingly, most Ontarians say they slow down when they realize they are speeding, suggesting awareness and education can play an important role in changing behaviour. According to the data, 87 per cent of drivers also support the fines and penalties for speeding, and 37 per cent claim that penalties and fines affected their driving behaviour in the past year. Distracted Driving Also Remains a Serious Concern Across the Province A separate survey conducted by CAA SCO found that 16 per cent of Ontario drivers have been involved in a collision caused by distracted driving, a figure that has gradually increased in recent years. Rear-end collisions remain the most common type of crash associated with distraction, according to this study. “Distracted driving is preventable, yet it continues to put lives at risk every day,” says Stewart. “Whether it’s checking a notification, interacting with in-vehicle technology or taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds, the consequences can be devastating. The safest choice is to stay focused on driving.” As Ontarians prepare for the upcoming long weekend, CAA South Central Ontario is encouraging drivers to stay focused, alert and aware behind the wheel. For more information about road safety advocacy and research, visit www.caasco.com/advocacy Speeding and Dangerous Driving Behaviour Survey Methodology: The online survey was conducted by DIG Insights from March 10 to March 20, 2026, with 1,504 Ontario drivers aged 18 and older. Based on the sample size of n=1,504 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for this research is +/- 2%.) Distracted Driving Survey Methodology:  The online survey was conducted by DIG Insights from February 3 to February 13, 2026, with 1,500 Ontario drivers aged 18 and older. Based on the sample size of n=1,500 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for this research is +/- 2%.)

MEDIA RELEASE: New CAA Survey finds: Ontario families are feeling the impact of higher gas prices in their daily lives, summer plans and household budgets. featured image

4 min

MEDIA RELEASE: New CAA Survey finds: Ontario families are feeling the impact of higher gas prices in their daily lives, summer plans and household budgets.

Seven-in-ten Ontarians aged 35 to 54 say rising gas prices are affecting their day-to-day activities, as fuel costs continue to put pressure on household budgets and force many families to make difficult trade-offs in how they drive, spend and plan their daily lives, according to a new survey from CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO). The findings highlight how higher fuel costs are contributing to broader affordability challenges, with many families driving less, cutting back on discretionary spending and reducing everyday purchases such as takeout meals and coffee to keep spending in check. “For many Ontario families, higher gas prices aren’t just affecting how often they fill up the tank, they’re changing everyday decisions about where they go, what they buy and how they spend their money,” says Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president, government & community relations for CAA SCO. Many households report driving less, cutting back on discretionary spending and reducing small but regular purchases such as takeout meals and coffee to manage rising costs. Affordability pressures are reshaping summer plans While summer is typically a time for travel and recreation, rising fuel costs are making it harder for families to fully participate in the activities they enjoy. Nearly seven in ten Ontarians aged 35 to 54 say gas prices are affecting their recreational activities and vacation plans, with many scaling back or rethinking how they spend their time off. For many, gas prices around $2.10 per litre represent a tipping point where driving habits and travel decisions begin to shift. Among those planning road trips, nearly six in ten say rising gas prices will influence their plans, often resulting in fewer trips, closer destinations or tighter budgets. “Families are doing their best to preserve important moments like vacations and day trips, but affordability pressures are forcing more careful planning,” adds Di Felice. CAA calls for continued focus on affordability for drivers CAA SCO says the findings underscore the need to keep affordability front of mind when it comes to policies and decisions that impact drivers. “Transportation is a daily necessity for many Ontarians, not a luxury,” says Di Felice. “When fuel costs rise, it affects everything from commuting to grocery runs and adds to the financial strain households are already feeling.” CAA SCO continues to advocate for practical solutions that help keep mobility accessible and affordable, while supporting consumers with tools and advice to manage rising costs. Practical steps to help stretch your fuel budget To help mitigate the impact of higher fuel costs, CAA SCO encourages drivers to take simple steps to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary spending for their summer road trip plans: Plan routes in advance to avoid backtracking and unnecessary mileage: Plan the most efficient route to your destination and avoid backtracking and unnecessary mileage.   Remove extra weight from your vehicle: Reducing your vehicle’s weight can help improve your fuel efficiency when on trips.     Avoid leaving your rooftop luggage carriers or bike racks on your vehicles when you are not using them: Items on top of the car significantly increase aerodynamic drag, reducing fuel economy.   Control your speed: Fuel consumption starts to increase above 90-105 km/h. For long stretches of road ahead, use cruise control to maintain your speed to save fuel.  Drive conservatively: If you find yourself stuck in long weekend traffic, avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking, which can lower fuel economy by 15 to 30 per cent at highway speeds and 10 to 40 per cent in stop-and-go traffic.  Keep up with regular car maintenance:  Underinflated tires increase fuel consumption by up to four per cent. With regular maintenance services, you can help your vehicle run more efficiently. Take advantage of reward programs and tools to find lower prices: CAA members save three cents per litre when they load their membership card in the Shell app or use it at the pump.  “These small actions can help drivers keep their summer road trip plans while managing their budgets more effectively,” adds Di Felice. CAA South Central Ontario continues to provide timely information and practical advice to help Ontarians navigate rising costs and stay mobile year-round. For more information on how to make the most out of your tank, please visit: https://www.caasco.com/membership/member-benefits/shell Methodology This report presents the findings of a survey conducted by Ipsos from May 27 to June 4, 2026. For this survey, a sample of 1,000 adult Ontario residents were surveyed online, with sample sourced through the Ipsos panel. Data was weighted by region, age and gender, in accordance with Census proportions. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. The Ontario (n=1,000) data are accurate to within ± 3.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had the entire Ontario population aged 18+ been polled.

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