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Survey Finds Gas Prices Affecting Travel Plans For Canadians

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Rising fuel prices are forcing Canadians to make travel plan adjustments.

A recent survey by CAA found that 64 per cent say the cost is forcing them to re-evaluate.

Some say they are limiting the number of summer trips they take overall or will drive shorter distances.

Others will plan their travel around the prices or will adjust their budget to accommodate.

CAA also offers these summer fuel-saving tips:

  • Don’t start your car until you need to – your vehicle will “loosen up” as you drive.
  • Turn off your vehicle if you’re going to be waiting for longer than a stoplight.
  • Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and hard braking.
  • Fuel economy peaks between 80-90km/h. Use cruise control to maintain your speed to get more distance out of your fuel tank.
  • Gradually cool down your vehicle by first rolling down your windows to air out the vehicle, then turn on your air conditioning gradually. Close your windows and sunroof when highway driving, and use a window shade when the car is parked to help keep the vehicle cooler
  • Keep your tires at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Set a reminder on your phone to check it monthly.
  • Plan your route to avoid backtracking and unnecessary mileage.

As a part of planning a trip, CAA also offers some ways to get your car road trip ready:

  • Check your tires. Ensure the tire pressure meets the manufacturer’s recommendations to improve your vehicle’s handling and extend the life cycle of your tires.
  • Top up your fluids. Consider packing extra summer washer fluid and change your oil if you are close to your regularly scheduled appointment.
  • Clean your windshield. Clean any debris inside and out and replace worn wiper blades.
  • Check your lights. Make sure your headlights, brake lights and turn signals are working properly. If you have kids, teach them about road safety by involving them in the process.
    Test the battery. Intense heat can cause just as much havoc on your car battery as the frigid cold. If your battery is older than three years, have a professional test your car battery and replace it. CAA Battery Service will test, boost or replace your battery.
  • Pack an emergency roadside kit. Whether you buy a pre-assembled kit or create your own, it should include a few essentials like a flashlight, jumper cables, working jack, cellphone battery charger, water and non-perishable food.
  • Double-check your licence plates are renewed. Doing a quick spot-check online is easy and will help you avoid the risk of getting a ticket. Renewing your licence plate is free.
  • For CAA Members, when you run out of gas, a limited supply of gasoline will be delivered to your disabled vehicle to enable you to reach the nearest open service station, or in accordance with towing service provisions, a tow will be provided to a facility where fuel is available. Specific brands or octane ratings cannot be promised.
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Canada Has Very Distracted Drivers According To CAA

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The Canadian Automobile Association has completed a survey to see how distracted drivers actually were, and it’s a lot.

Now that almost everything in a car is a touch screen, it’s become a lot easier for drivers to focus on that instead of the road.

Even if it’s just for a few seconds that could prove deadly.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if you’re driving 90/kmh and look away from the road for 5 seconds, that’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

In the survey, 79 per cent of respondents said that they do something that distracts them from driving; like look at their phone, use the voice activated features in the car/on their phone or get caught up in the car’s own technologies.

Almost half of Canadians asked admitted that to setting their destination in their GPS while driving.

You can read all the distracted details about drivers from CAA here.

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Tips To Help Save Money As Gas Prices Soar

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As gas prices soar, the Canadian Automobile Association has some tips to help ease the burden on your wallet.

CAA says there are ways to save hundreds of dollars at the fuel pumps each year even if you can’t control prices.

It recommends not pushing the pedal to the metal, saying softer and slower acceleration and coasting to slow down rather than braking hard will help gas last.

Another trick is to not let your car idle.

“You waste 1 litre of gas every 20 minutes you idle,” CAA says. “If you are going to be stopped for 60 seconds or more, try to turn off the engine.”

It also advises you to keep up on car maintenance, even underinflated tires can drive up your gas consumption.

Other ways to save include refraining from speeding, using cruise control when it’s safe to do so, and avoiding pothole-ridden roads. Driving at lower and consistent speeds can greatly reduce fuel consumption.

CAA also recommends combining your trips as several short commutes with a cold engine can use twice as much gas.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been fueling the recent spike in fuel prices. The national average price of gas is $1.81 per litre.

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Aggressive Drivers & Red Light Runners = Largest Concern For Canadian Drivers

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Many Canadian drivers quickly got used to emptier roads since the start of the pandemic.

CAA asked over two thousand Canadians what their biggest concerns were when it comes to driving and other drivers.

The polls showed that other drivers running red lights was the number one thing that made them uneasy about being on the road. This was a three way tie between drunk and drug intoxicated drivers.

Coming in at a close second were aggressive drivers, those using their phones while behind the wheel as well as sleepy drivers.

  1. Drivers running red lights (93%)
    People driving after drinking alcohol (93%)
    People driving after using illegal drugs (93%)
  2. People driving aggressively (92%)
    People using their phones while driving (92%)
    Sleepy drivers (92%)
  3. Drivers speeding on residential streets (91%)
  4. People driving well over the speed limit (90%)
  5. People driving after using cannabis (85%)
  6. Drivers speeding on freeways (80%)
  7. People engaging with their in-car technologies (67%)
  8. People driving after taking prescription drugs (64%)
  9. Large trucks (53%)
  10. People using in-car speech recognition (like Siri or CarPlay) (33%)
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Dangerous Driving On The Rise

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A survey by the Canadian Automobile Association found many Canadians have seen an increase in dangerous driving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spokesperson Gary Howard says over 2,800 people were surveyed from June 5th to 16th.

“It has been significant. 59% of Canadians see, or have the perception that dangerous driving is on the increase during the COVID situation,” Howard says.

Speeding topped the list of concerns, “Aggressive driving, drivers talking on their phones and then reckless driving. All of that points towards either very aggressive driving or distracted driving,” Howard says.

The survey also found that since the pandemic began, many have parked their vehicles, and have chosen to ride their bike instead.

“72% of Canadians said they were driving less, that’s not surprising. I think people are getting out more after COVID-19, and if you’re not used the traffic, you may do a things you don’t normally do. Hopefully people can get back to some sort of normal,” Howard says.

“These numbers are concerning,” says Ian Jack, vice-president of public affairs, CAA National. “It doesn’t matter if you are going for a 5-minute trip to the store, or a 30-minute scenic drive, keeping each other safe on and around our roads should always be top of mind.”

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CAA Says More Public Education Needed

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The Canadian Automobile Association feels more education surrounding cannabis use is needed.

A recent poll by the CAA found 26 per-cent of younger Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 have driven after using cannabis or have been in a car driven by someone who had recently consumed marijuana.

Over 1,500 Canadians were surveyed in November and December.

The same poll found 86 per-cent understood the importance of having travel arrangements if they are going to be drinking alcohol.

70 per-cent viewed it as less important to do so after consuming cannabis.

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New Rules Protecting Airline Passengers In Effect

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The first phase of new air passenger rights came into effect today in Canada.

Of note, passengers will now be Passengers are eligible for up to $2,400 in compensation if they’re bumped from a flight.

There will also be compensation for lost or damaged luggage, and a requirement to refund any baggage fees.

Julia Kent is with the Canadian Automobile Association, a major proponent of the bill, and she says 91% of Canadians felt they were lacking some sort of protection as air travellers.

“CAA heard this loud and clear and three years ago we started lobbying the federal government and joined a task force, and just worked really hard to try and get something in place that makes us feel like we’re treated a little bit more fairly when we’re flying,” she said.

Kent says airlines will also be forced to have clear language on the new rights on all tickets and itineraries.

“Often times when we’re flying we just don’t really know what we’re entitled to, we don’t really know what the rules are, it seems to be different every time. Now there’s rules in place that force airlines to be very, very clear, concise and simple in their language that they use,” she said.

There will also be tighter rules around flight delays while on the tarmac. Airlines must now provide access to toilets, heating, cooling and refreshments starting at the time of the delay.

They also have to let passengers off no later than three hours after the delay starts.

Other changes, including cash compensation for long delays and cancellations within the carrier’s control, will come into force in mid-December.

Kent says the new rights are a really big step forward.

“The European Union and the United States have had a regime in place to protect people travelling by air from things like overbooking, lost luggage, for a really long time, so this is a massive step in the right direction for Canadians.”

She notes though, that there is still room for improvement, especially around flight bumping rules.

“There are still areas of the air passenger rights regime that can be improved upon, such as an airlines ability to just claim mechanical issues and get off scott-free. We would really like to see some clear language around what constitutes as a mechanical issue and when they can claim that,” she said.