Summer 2021 could be a busy one
BY MADDY KYLIE
A survey conducted by the Tire and Rubber Association said 61 percent of drivers are planning a summer road trip or a drive to a vacation destination, while, among younger drivers aged 18 to 34 and 35 to 44, that number jumps to 70 per cent and 72 per cent respectively.
Collision repair shops may finally get their volumes back to pre-pandemic levels this summer, with approximately 61 percent of Canadians looking to take a road trip this summer.
A survey conducted by the Tire and Rubber Association said 61 percent of drivers are planning a summer road trip or a drive to a vacation destination, while, among younger drivers aged 18 to 34 and 35 to 44, that number jumps to 70 per cent and 72 per cent respectively. While Canadians from coast to coast to coast clearly share a hankering for travel, there are also some interesting regional highlights when it comes to road trip preferences:
British Columbia
British Columbians are slightly more likely than others to make concessions when it comes to their travel, with 79 percent stating the pandemic changed their vacation plans and the vast majority (89 percent) planning to stay closer to home than usual this summer.
Alberta
Alberta residents are slightly more likely to hit the open road, with 61 percent planning a road trip this summer. And, on par with the rest of the country, almost half (48 percent) of Albertans planning a road trip noted camping would be their preferred outdoor activity.
Saskatchewan, Manitoba
Relatively on par with the country, residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are true road trip warriors, with 35 percent willing to drive more than 12 hours from their homes for their vacation. Not surprisingly, almost two-thirds 63 percent of Saskatchewan and Manitoba respondents say fuel efficiency is the car feature they care about most when taking a summer road trip.
Ontario
Roughly in line with the rest of the country, Ontarians are open to driving a little farther from their home this summer, with 35 percent willing to drive 7 or more hours.
Quebec
Quebecers seem to love their cars the most, with more than half (58 percent) stating the pandemic has caused them to miss driving and 67 percent feeling that their car is a part of their family.
Maritimes
Atlantic Canadians feel most connected to nature, with the majority stating the pandemic has given them a greater appreciation for the outdoors (85 percent) and 79 percent interested in domestic travel.
