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MEDIA RELEASE: After a one-year hiatus, the annual CAA Worst Roads campaign returns

Mar 23, 2021

3 min


With a renewed focus on education and safety, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) is proud to announce that following a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the annual CAA Worst Roads Campaign is back, and voting is now open.


“The campaign is a platform for all road users to highlight which roadway improvements should be prioritized by our different levels of government,” says Raymond Chan, government relations manager CAA SCO. “The campaign gives decision-makers a snapshot of what roads the public perceives are not meeting their expectations.”


Over the course of the last year people have changed their transportation habits. More people are cycling or driving their vehicles instead of carpooling and using public transit. CAA believes funding for roadway improvements needs to be consistent to ensure that quality and safety is maintained.


“Our roads are essential, they are the arteries used every day to keep workers, goods and services flowing and should be maintained more than ever,” adds Chan. “As people are encouraged to stay home and telework during the pandemic, governments should continue to take advantage of lighter traffic patterns as an opportunity for road repair. These efforts can also be refocused on increasingly popular modes of transportation, such as cycling and walking.”


Investing in infrastructure improvements, including the proper maintenance of roads and bridges, is important to the vitality and economic recovery of local communities. CAA continues to advocate for longer-term dedicated infrastructure funding to help municipalities prepare, plan, budget and execute on repair backlogs and capital projects.


The success stories over the last 17 years are a result of governments prioritizing infrastructure through multi-year capital investments. Some examples include:


1. Riverdale Drive, Washago

  • Despite appearing on the CAA Worst Roads list for the first time in 2019, the poor road conditions of Riverdale Drive was not new to residents of Severn.
  • After 20 years since the street’s last resurfacing, Council approved $50,000 of prep work for Riverdale Drive led by Ward 5 Councillor Sarah Valiquette.


2. Dufferin Street, Toronto

  • Appearing on the provincial top 10 list annually since 2015, Dufferin Street between Bloor Street and Dundas Street underwent resurfacing from September to November 2018.
  • An estimated 35,000 vehicles travel Dufferin Street daily and the number of commuters is increasing.
  • In response to community concerns, Toronto City Council adopted a motion to expedite studies relating to pedestrian and cyclist safety along Dufferin Street, among other improvements in December 2020.


3. College Road, Windsor

  • The intersection of Campbell and College Avenue underwent sewer, road and watermain rehabilitation in May 2019.
  • College Avenue between South Street and Brock Street was repaired in November 2019.


CAA is calling on all Ontarians to vote for their Worst Roads today and join the community of drivers, cyclists, transit riders and pedestrians committed to improving Ontario’s roads.


Nominations for CAA’s Worst Roads can be cast at caaworstroads.com until April 18. To encourage participants to act on their concerns, they will be entered into a grand prize draw to win free gas for a year, or one of 5 secondary prizes.


Once voting closes, CAA will compile a list of the 10 Worst Roads in Ontario, along with the Worst Roads in regions across the province. The regional top five lists will help shine further light on the state of local roads in municipalities across Ontario.


CAA will present the list of 2021 Worst Roads to local and provincial officials to help inform future funding and planning decisions.


Here is a roundup of Ontario's Top 10 Worst Roads in 2019:

1. Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto

2. Riverdale Drive, Washago

3. Dufferin Street, Toronto

4. County Road 49, Prince Edward

5. Barton Street East, Hamilton 6. Burlington Street East, Hamilton

7. Avondale Road, Belleville

8. Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto

9. Carnegie Beach Road, Scugog

10. Bathurst Street, Toronto

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MEDIA RELEASE: CAA survey finds cannabis-impaired driving remains a concern in Manitoba

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3 min

MEDIA RELEASE: Nominate now: the annual CAA Worst Roads campaign kicks off

The nomination portal for the annual CAA Worst Roads campaign is now open, and CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) is giving Ontarians the opportunity to voice their concerns about the bad roads in their communities. “Our research shows that 85 per cent of Ontarians are concerned about the state of our roads,” says Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president of government and community relations, CAA SCO. “The campaign has been a vital platform for Ontarians to nominate roads they believe need urgent attention. It allows Ontarians to drive positive change in their communities by amplifying their voices.” Survey Reveals High Cost of Vehicle Damage from Poor Roads According to a survey conducted by CAA SCO, nearly half of respondents have experienced vehicle damage because of poor roads. Eighty-one per cent pay out of pocket to repair their vehicle, only three per cent file a claim with their personal auto insurance, and nine per cent forego repairs altogether. Vehicle damage caused by potholes and poor road maintenance can range from $500 to over $2,000. The average repair by those surveyed cost $933, a significant $81 increase from 2024. “With the increasing cost of living, many people hold on to their cars for longer when damaged, the last thing they need is expensive repair bills on an already stretched household budget,” adds Di Felice. The survey also found that cracked pavement remains the most dominant road-related issue (88 per cent), followed by potholes (84 per cent) and congestion (81 per cent – up four per cent from 2024). One of the highest-climbing road-related issues Members reported is reduced or closed lanes, where 78 per cent of respondents agreed it is common in their region—up six per cent from last year. “The frustration from motorists is evident,” says Di Felice, “congestion continues to grow as one of the top road-related concerns for Ontarians, and the CAA Worst Roads campaign allows governments the insight into what repairs need to be prioritized for their communities.” More than half of respondents (64 per cent) also agreed that not enough is currently being done to maintain the roads in their area. Decision-Makers Respond to the Worst Roads Campaign “We know that the campaign works and that decision-makers are listening. Since the start of the campaign, we have seen budgets prioritized and road repairs moved up,” says Di Felice, “in the last four campaigns, we have seen ten roads receive attention because of their nomination in the CAA Worst Roads campaign.” Ontario’s top 10 list is verified by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) and its members, including the Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (GTSWCA), Heavy Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT), and the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA). Nominations for the Worst Roads campaign can be submitted online at www.caaworstroads.com from March 25 to April 18. Once the nominations are collected, CAA will reveal the top 10 worst roads in the province to the public. CAA conducted an online survey with 2,370 CAA SCO Members between January 6 to 14, 2025. Based on the sample size and the confidence level (95 per cent), the margin of error for this study was +/- 2 per cent.

3 min

MEDIA RELEASE: Nominate now: the annual CAA Worst Roads campaign kicks off

The 14th annual CAA Worst Roads Campaign is live and CAA Manitoba wants citizens to voice their concerns and nominate the roads they want to see fixed. “Our research shows that 96 per cent of Manitobans are concerned about the state of our roads,” says Ewald Friesen, manager government relations at CAA Manitoba, “the CAA Worst Roads campaign gives Manitobans a voice in highlighting the roads they believe are in need of repair which provides a valuable snapshot to decision-makers.” A recent survey conducted by CAA Manitoba found that more than half of respondents have experienced vehicle damage because of poor roads. Eighty per cent paying out of pocket to repair them – up ten per cent from last year, only five per cent filing a claim with MPI - down 11 per cent from 2024. Eight per cent of Manitobans forwent repairs altogether.  According to the survey, poor road conditions, especially potholes and sunken sewer grates, are causing significant vehicle damage and increasing out-of-pocket repair costs for drivers. “Many Manitobans are experiencing the effects of the rise in the cost of living, including having to delay vehicle repairs. This makes investing in our roads and infrastructure more crucial than ever,” says Friesen. “We understand that consumers are being cautious with their spending, and many choose to keep their cars longer instead of purchasing new ones and stretching an already strained family budget." The damage caused to a vehicle by hitting a pothole can cost anywhere from $300 to $6,000, depending on the make and model of the car. The survey found that almost half of respondents paid between $500 to $1,999 to repair their vehicle, with an average cost of $882. “CAA Worst Roads campaign is a platform that gives Manitobans an opportunity to speak up and helps the different levels of government understand what roads are pain points for their constituents,” says Friesen. “We know the campaign works because we see governments prioritize budgets and move up road repairs every year after appearing on the CAA Worst Roads list,” adds Friesen. “This includes last year’s winner, 18th Street in Brandon, where we saw a swift, coordinated response between the municipality and the province.” Manitobans can nominate any road for issues ranging from congestion, potholes, poor road signs and the timing of traffic lights to pedestrian and cycling safety.  “Nearly 60 per cent of those who have ever participated in the campaign believe that nominating a road could result in the repair of it,” shares Friesen, “CAA Manitoba is calling on all road users to nominate the roads they believe need attention to help make our roads safer and show decision-makers what roadway improvements are important to Manitobans.” Nominations for the Worst Roads campaign can be submitted online at www.caaworstroads.com starting March 18 until April 11. Once the nominations are collected, CAA Manitoba will compile a list of the top 10 worst roads in the province, which will be announced to the public. CAA conducted an online survey with 1,014 CAA Manitoba Members between January 6 to 14, 2025. Based on the sample size and the confidence level (95 per cent), the margin of error for this study was +/-3 per cent.

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