Halifax most dangerous Canadian city to drive in: Allstate study

HALIFAX – Halifax has seen more fender benders and buckled bumpers than any other city in Canada this year, according to an Allstate Canada Safe Driving Study.

The study shows that Halifax has the highest collision frequency rate in the country, at 7.12 per cent.

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The study looked at All State Canada data and tracked collision frequency among customers in Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario and ranked 81 communities across the country. Halifax came in 81st place in regards to safety on the roads.

Deanna Lumax, the agency manager for the Allstate office at Dartmouth Crossing, said the dubious honour could be the result of two things.

“The winter that we [had last year] as well as the use of cell phones and anything that would impact distracted driving,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The winter that we [had last year] as well as the use of cell phones and anything that would impact distracted driving," she said.

Driver Doug Banfield said he is not surprised to see Halifax named the worst place to drive.

“You see a lot of people on their phones. There are a lot of bad drivers out here. People are not paying attention when they should be,” he said.

Tom Furlong has been instructing young drivers in Halifax for approximately 40 years.

He said the driving behaviour in Halifax has evolved in the last few years.

“A little more aggression and impatience. I suppose another way of putting it [is] you want to stop for that red light? You think, I’ll just go through it. I see that every single day,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "A little more aggression and impatience. I suppose another way of putting it [is] you want to stop for that red light? You think, I'll just go through it. I see that every single day," he said.

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Furlong said there are a few things drivers can do to keep themselves and others safe.

The community with the lowest collision rate was Spruce Grove, Alberta which was 3.43 per cent.

Overall in Canada, the collision frequency rate has risen from 5.19 per cent to 5.57 per cent since the last study. In the last study, Halifax ranked 73rd.