Toronto, Ontario — November 26, 2015 — It looks there’s been a bump in business for collision repair facilities this year, or at least there’s been a rise in the number of collisions. The seventh-annual Allstate Insurance Company of Canada Safe Driving Study has revealed that collisions are on the rise, with the frequency of collisions rising nationally from 5.19 per cent in the previous Safe Driving Study, to 5.57 per cent this year. This increase represents an overall 7.3 per cent rise in collisions.
The Safe Driving Study uses Allstate Canada data to track collision frequency among Allstate Canada customers in Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. Using this data, Allstate was able to rank 81 cities across the country based on collision frequency, with Spruce Grove, Alberta being rated the safest with a collision frequency of 3.43 per cent. The community with the highest frequency in collisions was Halifax at 7.12 per cent.
“Our data is showing a trend toward rising collisions over the past two years,” says Ryan Michel, Senior VP and Chief Risk Officer for Allstate Insurance Company of Canada. “While the study can only look at our data, we believe it’s important to share the trends we are seeing, in an effort to shine a light on road safety and encourage Canadians to think about what it means to be a safe driver.”
While the study showed an overall increase in the frequency of collisions, New Brunswick reported the lowest collision rates, followed by Alberta. The rise in collisions was the highest in Nova Scotia, which saw an increase in collisions from 4.63 per cent to 5.77 per cent. The study can’t account for direct reasons as to why collisions rose, but it’s important to note that a variety of factors, including increased traffic and inclement weather conditions, can play a part in an increase in collisions.
This year’s Safe Driving Study also revealed new information about where and how most drivers are getting into collisions. The three most common types of collisions according to Allstate data are vehicles being rear-ended (25.17 per cent); accidents while turning or passing through an intersection (23.54 per cent); and accidents involving parked vehicles (13.57 per cent).
Unsurprisingly, two out of the three days with the most collisions fall within the holiday season. Based on Allstate Canada collision data over the last decade, December 23 is the day a collision is most likely to occur, while December 21 ranks as the third most common day for collisions.
“The holidays are among the busiest time of the year–with seasonal parties, last-minute shopping and family visits all happening during a compressed timeframe, the holidays see many drivers on the roads,” says Michel. “The chaotic traffic, combined with treacherous winter driving conditions right into the new year, mean that drivers must remain vigilant and exercise caution at all times.”
Alberta
Of the eight Albertan communities ranked in the study, three made the top 10 safest cities, with Spruce Grove taking the top spot (#1, 3.43 percent). Medicine Hat (#9, 4.03 percent) saw the most drastic increase in collision claims in Alberta, with a 24 percent increase since the previous study.
Ontario
Ontario was home to seven of the top 10 safest cities in Canada: Chelmsford (#2, 3.54 percent), St. Thomas (#3, 3.66 percent), LaSalle (#4, 3.70 percent), Brockville (#5, 3.83 percent); Belle River (#6, 3.90 percent), Sarnia (#7, 4.01 percent) and Amherstburg (#10, 4.09 percent)
Nova Scotia
Five communities in Nova Scotia were ranked in the study, including Bedford (#22, 5.06 per cent), Hammonds Plains (#32, 5.25 per cent), Lower Sackville (#46, 5.63 per cent), Dartmouth (#52, 5.87 per cent), and Halifax (#81, 7.12 per cent).
Compared to the other regions studied, Nova Scotia saw the highest frequency of collisions overall, with Hammonds Plains experiencing the most significant increase in collisions at 66 per cent, while Halifax reported the highest collision claims frequency rate in Canada at 7.12 per cent
New Brunswick
Six communities in New Brunswick were ranked in the study: Rothesay (#18, 4.82 per cent), Saint John (#26, 5.14 per cent), Riverview (#36, 5.36 per cent), Dieppe (#42, 5.52 per cent), Fredericton (#53, 5.91 per cent) and Moncton (#68, 6.33 per cent), which saw a 12 per cent increase in collision claims.
