Featured Post from CAA Club Group

MEDIA RELEASE: CAA installs bike racks on GTA trucks to better assist cyclists

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2 min

Kaitlynn Furse

As summer approaches and more cyclists are out on the roads, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) is enhancing its CAA Bike Assist service. More than 70 new bike racks have been installed on roadside assistance trucks in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).



For over 10 years, CAA Bike Assist has been serving cyclists who find themselves on the side of the road with a punctured tire or broken chain. The new bike racks help CAA drivers safely transport members and their bikes home or to a nearby bike shop. CAA drivers are also trained on how to tighten seats, adjust handle bars and replace chains.



“CAA has a long history when it comes to cycling safety,” says Michael Stewart, community relations specialist, CAA SCO. “We are committed to keeping members safe, no matter how they get from point A to point B. These new enhancements to our member services are designed to help give cyclists peace of mind when they are on the road.”  


CAA has also expanded its popular TripTik Travel Planner to offer suggested bike routes. Within North America, cyclists can now plan specialized routes, like TripTiks for motorists, with stopping points and amenities along the way.



“The online maps currently available to cyclists don’t indicate if the selected route is going to be safe,” said Kaitlynn Furse, manager, public relations, CAA SCO. “The bike routes in the TripTik Travel Planner have been vetted to give cyclists the confidence that they are taking the safest route to their destination.”


Members can find bike routes around a specific area or for a desired destination. To create a Bike Route TripTik, members can visit their local CAA store, call Member Services or use CAA’s TripTik Travel Planner online.


Some tips for sharing the road safely include:


  • Be aware. Pay attention and make eye contact. Be courteous and do not use headphones or mobile devices while driving or cycling.
  • Ride with traffic. Riding against traffic flow is dangerous, illegal and a leading cause of car-bike collisions. Clearly marked contraflow bike lanes are the only exception.
  • Keep a safe distance. Whether cycling or driving, keep a safe distance from other cars and bikes; leave enough space for everyone to maneuver safely.
  • Protect yourself. Drivers, use your seat belts. Cyclists, wear your helmet.
  • Be visible. Use reflectors and lights after dark and on cloudy or foggy days.
  • Be predictable. Signal your intentions and obey traffic signals and signs.


Visit your local CAA store to pick up a free ‘Watch for Bikes’ decal. The decal is applied to the side view mirror of cars and is a constant reminder to watch for bikes when changing lanes or opening a car door. Cyclists can prepare and plan ahead with the purchase of safe biking accessories by visiting ShopwithCAA.com or a local CAA store.


Learn more cycling safety tips and try CAA’s Bike Quiz and Road Test to put your knowledge to the test before heading out on the road.

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Kaitlynn Furse

Kaitlynn Furse

Director, Corporate Communications

Media spokesperson and subject matter expert on winter driving, road trips and travel.

Winter DrivingTravel and TourismStrategic CommunicationsRoad Trips

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3 min

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3 min

MEDIA RELEASE: CAA Research Finds Distracted Driving and Speeding Are the Top Two Road Safety Concerns in Manitoba

A new survey conducted by CAA Manitoba found that Manitobans are very worried about the dangerous driving they’ve seen across the province, especially distracted driving and speeding. The study found that 88 per cent of Manitoba drivers feel somewhat or very concerned about distracted driving. According to Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), distracted driving is now the number one cause of fatalities on Manitoba roadways. “It is no surprise that Manitobans are concerned about the dangerous driving they have witnessed, especially when it comes to distracted drivers,” says Ewald Friesen, manager, government & community relations for CAA Manitoba. “What is most concerning, however, is that currently, Manitoba does not have a specific distracted driving law, which could help deter distracted drivers and increase road safety.” CAA Manitoba’s research indicates that almost half (46 per cent) of Manitobans have admitted to being distracted drivers, while most (63 per cent) have witnessed a close-call collision or traffic violation caused by distracted driving. Most concerning, 13 per cent of drivers reported being directly involved in a collision due to distracted driving. Our research found that more than half of Manitobans believe increasing fines and penalties can discourage distracted drivers. “We know that drivers who text are far more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash compared to non-distracted drivers,” adds Friesen. “Distractions inside and outside your vehicle can draw your focus away from where it needs to be most.” In addition to distracted driving, speeding continues to be a significant problem in Manitoba, and Automatic Speed Enforcement (ASE) may be an additional tool that has been shown in other jurisdictions to help. Additional research conducted by CAA shows that 82 per cent of Manitobans stated that speeding is also a problem this year. That same study found that 65 per cent of drivers support the use of ASE cameras. In fact, almost three-quarters of Manitobans say that ASE can help deter speeding and slow drivers down. “ASEs can be a valuable tool in positively shifting driver behaviour and protecting vulnerable road users, especially in areas with schools and community centres,” says Friesen. “Photo radar cameras should not be used as a revenue generator but rather as a tool to encourage safe driving behaviours, especially in school zones.” As of right now, Winnipeg is the only municipality in Manitoba with the right to use photo enforcement; however, other municipalities continue to lobby for similar rights. In addition to tools such as ASE cameras, Manitobans support higher fines and harsher penalties or suspensions, especially for repeat offenders. Over half of Manitobans (60 per cent) believe increasing the penalties on repeat offenders is the most effective way to discourage drivers from speeding, especially in school zones or near community centres. “CAA Manitoba continues to advocate for safer roads across all municipalities, especially for vulnerable road users,” says Friesen. “Standardized practices across municipalities regarding distracted driving laws and ASE cameras can help ensure that they are used in a predictable way that improves road safety and reinforces public trust.” For more information about dangerous driving and road safety, visit: www.caamanitoba.com/advocacy Speeding and Dangerous Driving Methodology The online survey was conducted by DIG Insights from March 7 to March 19, 2025, 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%.) Distracted Driving Methodology The online survey was conducted by DIG Insights from February 11 to February 21, 2025, with 506 Manitoba drivers aged 18 and older. Based on the sample size of n=506 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for this research is +/- 3%.)

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