New Desjardins Insurance survey shows Canadians navigating more complex, high-pressure driving conditions

Levis, July 22, 2026 – A new national survey from Desjardins Insurance, conducted among nearly 4,000 Canadians in 2026, reveals that road safety in Canada is being reshaped by a convergence of risks, as drivers navigate increasingly demanding conditions while under pressure. These insights point to opportunities to better understand risks and encourage safer driving behaviours.

A more complex driving environment

While distracted driving remains the most widely recognized issue, the findings show that the story is broader. Today’s road conditions are defined by a combination of external distractions, high stress levels and frequent exposure to risky behaviour, all of which are influencing how Canadians experience the road. 

Six in ten Canadians (60%) rank distracted driving among the top risks, a position it continues to hold nationally. However, distraction itself has evolved. External factors, such as traffic, pedestrians and activity outside the vehicle, are now the leading source (35%), followed by cell-phone related distractions (32%), in-vehicle technology (26%) and everyday habits like eating or drinking (22%). This highlights the importance of maintaining focus and being mindful of both in-vehicle and external distractions.  

Drivers under pressure

At the same time, Canadians are getting behind the wheel under strain. Nearly half (49%) say they frequently feel stressed or tired, pointing to the growing role that mental load plays in focus, reaction time and decision-making while driving. Planning ahead and taking breaks on longer drives are simple ways to help manage these pressures.  

“Road safety is about more than individual behaviour, it’s shaped by the conditions drivers face every day,” said Valérie Lavoie, President and Chief Operating Officer, Desjardins General Insurance Group. “Canadians are navigating distraction, stress and constant external demands all at once. As one of Canada’s leading insurers, we see how these pressures impact safety. To make a real difference, we need to address this full reality, through stronger awareness, better education and actions that help reduce risk on our roads.” 

What Canadians are seeing on the road

The survey also highlights how visible risky behaviours remain across the country, reinforcing the complexity of the driving environment Canadians are navigating every day. 

• 60% of Canadians rank distracted driving among the top road safety risks 

• 35% cite external factors as their main source of distraction, ahead of in-vehicle technology (26%) and everyday habits (22%) 

• 49% report feeling frequently stressed or tired 

• 68% say they frequently witness aggressive driving 

• 19% report seeing alcohol-impaired driving and 24% report cannabis-impaired driving 

• 85% recognize speeding as a major risk, yet 26% say it is acceptable to exceed speed limits 

A shifting road safety landscape

Together, these findings point to a road safety landscape where risks are not isolated but overlapping. Distraction, stress and behaviour are interacting in ways that are making the driving environment more demanding for Canadians. 

As these pressures continue to build, improving road safety will depend on recognizing how Canadians actually experience the road today and ensuring drivers are supported with the tools, awareness and conditions needed to stay focused and make safer decisions. 

For more information (media inquiries only):
Public relations, Desjardins Group
media@desjardins.com