Do you know when most car collisions resulting in an insurance claim happen in Canada? Do you know what type of accident they likely were? Allstate Canada’s latest car collision data* is out, and some of these answers might surprise you.
- Which Month Has the Highest Number of Car Collisions in Canada?
- The Day of the Week When Most Car Crashes Happen is…
- What Time of Day do Most People Report Experiencing an Auto Accident?
- Which Province Has the Highest Frequency of Car Collisions Per Insured Driver?
- What is the Most Common Type of Collision?
- What Does This Data Tell Us?
1. Which Month Has the Highest Number of Car Collisions in Canada?
Over a two-year period, December had the highest number of vehicle crashes. With the transition from fall to winter, we often see snow, a drop in temperatures which brings icy road conditions, and fewer daylight hours as the sun sets earlier. January and then November complete the top-three highest months for car collisions. As drivers dust-off their winter driving skills, consider a quick refresher on safe winter driving habits.
2. The Day of the Week When Most Car Crashes Happen is…
You might suspect the weekend would see the most collisions; it’s actually a day earlier. While it can vary month-to-month, when looking at the full year our data shows that Friday is the day of the week with the most car collisions – followed by Thursday.
3. What Time of the Day do Most People Report Experiencing an Auto Accident?
Our data indicates the afternoon (12pm to 6pm) is by far the most frequent time of the day for a collision, with almost half of collision-related claims stating that’s when the incident occurred. In a distant second place was the morning (6am to 12pm) at just under 25% of all collision-related claims and evenings (6pm to 12am) were third with just over 20%. Only 4.3% of claims come in at night (12am-6am).
4. Which Province Has the Highest Frequency of Collisions per Insured Driver?
Allstate provides auto insurance to five provinces: Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Out of that group, Quebec has the highest frequency of collision claims, followed by Ontario and then Nova Scotia, when adjusted for the number of policies.
5. What is the Most Common Type of Collision?
From our dataset, a rear-end collision involving two vehicles is the most common type of collision that results in a claim. The second-most common collision type is a parked car getting hit. In third place is when a vehicle was changing lanes.
When we include more severe collisions – situations where the vehicle could not be driven away from the scene – rear-end collisions remain the top cause. However, collisions during a left-turn at an intersection is the second-most common cause. In third is single vehicle collisions, which can involve hitting a tree, lamp post, or building, but can also involve hitting a pillar, wall in a garage or parking facility, or other obstacles.
6. What Does This Data Tell Us?
As we shift from autumn to winter, it is crucial to stay vigilant and steer clear of any distractions while driving. We recommend that Canadians start adjusting their driving habits early, before the approach of the winter months. A good first step is to install winter tires and scheduling an appointment with your mechanic to get your car ready for winter.
However, no matter how careful you are on the road, collisions can happen, and sometimes, incidents happen when you’re not even in the car! Choosing auto insurance with comprehensive coverage could save you a lot of headaches.
To learn more visit www.allstate.ca to find an agent nearest you.
*Allstate Insurance Company of Canada automotive claims information referenced above is based on the internal analysis of data from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2024.
Disclaimer: This information and the websites referenced are provided for your convenience only and should not be construed as providing legal or insurance advice. Allstate does not control or guarantee the accuracy of any content on any third-party site. Allstate is not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party site.