TORONTO, Nov. 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After two months without professional hockey, loyal fans may be itching to find new ways to keep their "friendly" city rivalries alive, so Allstate Insurance Company of Canada offers the Urban Safe Driving Challenge: a head-to-head look at auto collision claims from Allstate Canada customers between July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2012, in five NHL cities (Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal).
In the Urban Safe Driving Challenge Western Conference, Calgary beat out its Edmonton rivals, in a result similar to their team's 2011-12 season record. Calgary drivers reported fewer collisions per 100 cars, a collision rate of 5.63 per cent, compared to Edmonton's 6.02 per cent collision rate. Over in the Eastern Conference, not only did Montreal end last season behind both the Leafs and the Senators, according to Allstate Canada claims data, the city finished last to its bitter rivals in collisions frequency: 8.54 per cent for Montreal, 6.12 per cent for Toronto and 6.10 per cent for Ottawa.
Three of the urban centres saw their collision rate decrease between 2008–2010 and 2010–2012. Calgary's rate dropped by 5.63 per cent; Edmonton's reduced by 4.87 per cent and Toronto's collision rate decreased by 4.76 per cent.
Allstate Canada created the Urban Safe Driving Challenge to generate discussion about driving behaviour in Canada and to help keep roads and communities safer for everyone by emphasizing the importance of safe driving. "We're pleased to see fewer collisions in three of our Challenge cities. Whether this is because of an increased awareness of the dangers of hand-held devices starting to take effect, drivers reducing their speed, increased police activity or other influences we don't yet know, we hope to see this trend continue," says Saskia Matheson of Allstate Canada.
When analyzing the data for the Urban Safe Driving Challenge, Allstate Canada noted a worrying trend about when collisions take place and the severity of injuries that are a result of these crashes. "Drivers may be surprised to learn that our claims data and studies have shown that more fatal collisions happen when conditions are clear and roads are dry," says Matheson. "Speed is often the issue."
Allstate Canada reminds drivers that collisions can happen at any time of the year, not just in bad weather conditions. "We encourage all drivers to be attentive, sensible and patient behind the wheel to help keep our roads safer for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists," adds Matheson. "Keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the road, and your mind on the job."
Highlights from the Urban Safe Driving Challenge
- While Ottawa drivers had a lower collision rate than Montreal and Toronto, the city may be headed for the penalty box as its collision rate increased by 3.95 per cent between 2008-2010 and 2010-2012. Montreal also saw a 3.41 per cent increase.
- According to the City of Edmonton Motor Vehicle Collisions report for 2011, someone was either injured or killed in 14.95 per cent of the city's collisions.i The Calgary Police Service reports that 7.43 per cent of collisions resulted in an injury or fatality in 2011.ii
- While Montreal had the highest collision rate in the study, according to the service de police de la Ville de Montréal annual report for 2011, when looking at severity of collisions only 16.68 per cent of collisions reported to the police resulted in an injury or fatality.iii This percentage is higher in both Ottawa and Toronto. The 2011 Ottawa Road Safety Report shows that someone was injured or killed in 24.92 per cent of reported collisionsiv, and according to the 2011 Annual Statistical Report from the Toronto Police Service, someone was hurt or killed in 19.87 per cent of reported collisions.v
Data is not available for the other NHL cities, Vancouver or Winnipeg, as these cities are covered by government-run insurance companies.
Visit http://bit.ly/AllstateDrivingTips for safe driving tips or more information.
To see the full Urban Safe Driving Challenge visit http://bit.ly/UrbanSafeDrivingChallenge or the Ontario Safe Driving Study, also released today, visit http://bit.ly/2012SafeDriving.
Study Methodology
Allstate Canada's researchers analyzed collision data and policy claims data from its Ontario, Quebec and Alberta customers for a 24-month period beginning July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2012, and compared it to collision data from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2010, to see how collisions rates in five large cities compared. By analyzing two data sets, Allstate Canada can determine improvements and review declining results for these cities.
Claims data is limited to collisions for which there was a payout; claims for incidents such as break-ins or vandalism are not included in this analysis. Two-year periods were chosen to provide a larger sample for more meaningful analysis. Survey data ranks frequency of collisions, not severity of accident. Collision data can be traced back to the registered car address.
Jennifer Fox
Thornley Fallis Communications
Telephone: 416-515-7517 ext 350
Mobile: 416-473-9565
fox@thornleyfallis.ca
About Allstate Insurance Company of Canada
Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is one of Canada's leading producers and distributors of home and auto insurance products, and also recently named to Aon Hewitt's Best Employers in Canadalist. "The Good Hands Network®" enables consumers to contact Allstate Canada through one of 83 community-based Agencies, directly online at www.allstate.ca and through the Customer Contact Centre at 1-800-Allstate. Allstate Canada is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates and has partnered with organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada), Crime Stoppers, United Way and Junior Achievement. In 2010, Allstate Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), created the Allstate All-Canadians program, a mentorship program designed to guide the next generation of Canada's hockey youth. To learn more about Allstate Canada, visit www.goodhandsadvice.ca or www.allstate.ca.
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