The most widely observed undesirable behaviour on the country’s roads is drivers not signalling before a turn.

Vancouver, BC [October 15, 2026] – The perceptions of Canadians on drivers are slightly more positive in 2026 than last year, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, just over half of Canadians (52%) say drivers in their city or town are worse now than five years ago, down four points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in February 2025.

About a third of Canadians (34%, +1) say drivers have not changed, while just over one-in-ten (11%, +4) believe they are now better than five years ago.

In Quebec, only 40% of residents (-7) believe drivers in their city or town are worse now than five years ago. The proportions are higher in British Columbia (52%, -5), Alberta (54%, -5), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (55%, -1), Ontario (56%, -3) and Atlantic Canada (58%, -5).

“More than half of women (56%, +1) say drivers in their city or town are worse now than five years ago,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Only 47% of men (-11) share the same opinion.”

Compared to 2025, the survey shows a lower incidence of six specific occurrences on the country’s roads over the past month.

Just over a third of Canadians (34%, -6) say they went through a close call while on a vehicle, such as having to slam the brakes or steer violently to avoid a collision. This event was more prevalent among Canadians aged 18-to-34 (39%) and British Columbians (42%).

More than a third of Canadians (36%, -6) recall a vehicle “lane tracking”, or turning right or left from an incorrect lane. Once again, British Columbia is the province where this behaviour was observed the most (44%).

Just under half of Canadians witnessed a driver not stopping before an intersection (46%, -7) or a car taking up two or more spaces in a parking lot (48%, -2).

In Alberta, more than half of respondents (55%) recall a vehicle occupying two parking spots at once.

The most common mishap on the road is still drivers not signalling before a turn (61%, -3), a behaviour recalled by more than seven-in-ten British Columbians (72%) over the past month.

By a 2-to-1 margin, Canadians are ready to point the finger at specific groups or people in their city or town who are worse drivers than others (67% to 33%).

An analysis of the verbatim responses from the 67% of Canadians (+5) who were asked specifically which groups or people in their city or town are worse drivers than others yielded these results:

• More than a third (34%) focused on age (older/senior people at 18% and young/teen drivers at 16%).
• Three-in-ten (30%) mentioned a driver’s origin (ethnicity/nationality/race at 17% and immigrants/newcomers at 13%).
• Fewer than one-in-ten focused on gender (8%) or on behaviour/risk factors (6%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from September 21 to September 23, 2026, among 1,003 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here. 

For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca