Survey results from Allstate and Bridgestone say we are pretty horrible when it comes to road safety

Surveys — everyone has one. Government agencies, not-for-profits, and companies with ulterior motives. These two surveys come from the latter camp but they’re still enlightening.

Bridgestone Americas has released results of their latest survey into winter tire usage by Canadians and compared our acceptance of winter rubber to our neighbours to the south.

According to the results, only 58 percent of Canadians have installed or plan to install winter tires on their vehicle this year. In contrast, only 21 percent of Americans plan to do the same. Unmentioned are the large swaths of American geography that don’t receive snow nor have temperatures low enough to necessitate winter tires.

“Safety was the number one reason why Canadians indicate they plan to install or have already installed winter tires on their vehicle (76 percent). Performance and geography were other leading factors influencing winter tire usage among Canadians. Two-thirds (68 percent) said they install winter tires because they perform better than other tires in winter conditions. Half of Canadians (49 percent) said they install winter tires because they live in an area that receives a lot of snow,” explained the release from Bridgestone.

More troubling are results of a survey commissioned by Allstate showing distracted driving, especially in the 18 to 34 age bracket, is still a major issue.

While 40 percent of collisions happen in or around intersections, 34 percent of drivers admit checking their phone at a red light. Those in the 18 to 34 age bracket are three times more likely to text at red lights.

More in the infographic below.