The snow has fallen upon us, which means it’s time to be extra cautious while driving! Toronto’s #TakeAnotherLook road safety campaign urges drivers to be more careful as this is the most dangerous season for pedestrians and cyclists.
There are different techniques that drivers can employ to ensure safety. One of these is using Onlia Sense, which is a “safe-driving” app developed by Onlia. The app uses nudge theory and behavioral economics to help drivers develop better driving habits. At the same time, they can earn rewards for their improved driving behavior.
There has been an overall trend of improvement in drivers’ scores over a 6-month period of using the app.
Aside from speeding, the most-common self-admitted driving mistakes, according to the Onlia Safety Index study, was: road rage (30 percent), followed by not checking blind spots enough (22 percent).
According to the latest Transport Canada statistics, in 2017 there were 1,841 road fatalities and 9,960 serious injuries which required hospital admittance. Yet research shows that the majority of these accidents are preventable.
The great news is: three quarters of Canadians believe a mindset shift can help change traffic experiences for the better. Canadian drivers also have access to various impactful tools including the Onlia Sense™ app, which can be downloaded for free.
According to Alex Kelly, transportation expert and road safety consultant to Onlia, drivers can take small steps to improve their awareness and manage their driving skills:
- Whenever possible, leave early to get to your destination
- Resist the temptation to speed, even if everyone else on the road is doing so
- Put your phone on airplane mode or “Do not Disturb” before driving
- Create a habit to remind yourself to check blind spots
- When feeling stress, take deep breaths, listen to music or podcasts, that can help to reduce road rage.
