[Road safety] Distracted driving deaths up 67% in two years in Quebec
Distracted driving is a scourge that unfortunately still claims too many victims, whether in Quebec or in Canada as a whole. This report takes stock of the damage caused by this growing phenomenon on our roads.
Good to know
- The number of deaths related to distracted driving has increased by 67% in 2 years in Quebec
- 21% of road deaths in Quebec are caused by distracted driving
- In 2021, 73 Quebecers died from distracted drivers in 2021 - compared to 348 deaths across Canada.
- Distracted Quebecers risk a minimum fine of $300 for violations, one of the least severe penalties at the national level.
In 2021, 21% of road accidents were caused by distracted driving in Quebec
Distracted driving refers to any action that takes the driver's attention away from the road, causes him or her to let go of the wheel and divert attention from driving. This unfortunate phenomenon is the cause of many deaths in Quebec, and since 2019 there is an upward trend. For the year 2021, 21% of deaths on Quebec roads were caused by distracted driving, compared to 12.9% in 2019.
Source : SAAQ
Good to know
Distracted driving does not only affect the distracted driver, fatalities also include other motorists, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
In 2021, 73 people died in Quebec due to distracted driving
The consequences of distracted driving are unfortunately very real, as shown by the results of the year 2021 in Quebec. In fact, according to the data collected, 73 people lost their lives as a result of road accidents caused by distracted driving. This represents 40 more deaths than in 2019, an increase of 67% in two years.
Sources : SAAQ, Transport Canada (Government of Canada)
In Canada, distracted driving is second only to speeding as a cause of death on the roads
Nationally, how much of a factor is distracted driving in road fatalities? No less than 1,768 Canadians would have lost their lives in 2021 following a fatal collision. Distracted driving would be responsible for 19.7% of road deaths nationally, or about 348 victims directly related to this offence in that same year. In comparison, speed is responsible for 24.7% of fatal collisions, and 18% are caused by environmental factors (weather, roadway defects, adverse traffic conditions).
With a minimum fine of $300, Quebec is among the least severe provinces for distracted driving
All Canadian provinces have legislative measures in the form of fines, point deductions and licence suspensions to punish distracted driving. The following table shows the different penalties in the provinces of Canada:
- Quebec ranks among the top 5 least strict provinces for distracted driving
- The province of Manitoba has set the highest minimum fine at $672
- The least severe province in terms of fines remains New Brunswick, even with an increase in 2021 to $280.
| Province | Fine | Demerits | Licence suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $287 | 3 Demerits | No |
| British Columbia | $543 | 4 Demerits | Two or more infractions within 12 months can result in a 3-12 month prohibition |
| Prince Edward Island | $500 - $1 200 | 5 Demerits | No |
| Manitoba | $672 | 5 Demerits | First Conviction: 3-day suspension Subsequent offences: 7-day suspension |
| New Brunswick | $280 | 5 Demerits | No |
| Nova Scotia | First Conviction: $233.95 Second Conviction: $348.95 Subsequent Conviction: $578.95 | 4 Demerits | No |
| Ontario | First Conviction: $615 – $1,000 Second Conviction: $615 – $2,000 Subsequent Conviction: $615 – $3,000 | First Conviction: 3 Demerits Second Conviction: 6 Demerits Subsequent Conviction: 6 Demerits | First Conviction: 3-day suspension Second Conviction: 7-day suspension Subsequent Conviction: 30-day suspension |
| Quebec | $300 - $600 | 5 Demerits | First Conviction: 3-day suspension Second Conviction: 7-day suspension Subsequent Conviction: 30-day suspension |
| Saskatchewan | $580 | 4 Demerits | Penalties rise incrementally for second and third offences |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $300 - $1,000 | 4 Demerits | No |
Methodology
In addition to its expert editorial line around insurance and financial products, HelloSafe explores broader topics relating to global consumption in Canada and around the world. The aim is to decipher certain complex subjects for consumers and to provide everyone with the latest information. It is within this framework that HelloSafe regularly carries out studies on trends relating to current personal finance in Canada.
This study compiles the most recent available statistics on the subject of distracted driving in Quebec and Canada from sources such as Transport Canada, Statistics Canada, the CAA and the Groupement des assurances automobiles du Québec .
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