Aggressive driving up during Christmas holiday season: State Farm survey

Nearly one in three Canadian drivers surveyed, 18 to 20 years of age, “were significantly more likely to report being provoked or engage in aggressive driving around the major winter holidays,” according to results of a recent survey sponsored by State Farm.

State Farm announced this week results of a survey conducted Oct. 25 to Nov. 13

More than three in five Canadian drivers surveyed indicate they have “experienced some form of aggressive driving six times or more in recent months,” while more than half (or 54%) of Canadians surveyed “witnessed aggressive driving during the winter holidays, with 32% of this group seeing aggressive driving most often during Christmas,” State Farm stated in a press release.

“Comparatively, only 44% of Canadians reported seeing aggressive driving during summer holidays.”

In the online study, designed and conducted by KRC Research on behalf of State Farm, 1,050 drivers in Canada aged 18 and older were asked about driving.

“Canadians are most likely to get agitated at situations that make them late or change plans,” the insurer noted. Situations likely to get drivers agitated were  The top situations likely to make drivers agitated are traffic jams (61%), when they are running late (56%), road closures or construction (52%) and a busy parking lot (35%).

“The survey revealed over half (55%) of drivers admit they have adverse emotions while behind the wheel during the winter holidays,” State Farm reported. “As well, three in 10 Canadian drivers say they are more likely to engage in aggressive driving during the holiday season.”

State Farm did not estimate a margin or error because the online survey was “not based on a probability sample.”