New Tecnic Barometer reveals that fewer than half of drivers consistently adopt certain safe-driving habits in winter conditions

MONTREAL, Sept. 28, 2026 /CNW/ — Are Quebecers as careful behind the wheel as they think they are?

To mark the third edition of Road Respect Week, Tecnic is unveiling the first findings from the Tecnic Barometer, available on the newly launched Tecnic Hub.

Conducted annually in collaboration with Léger, the initiative tracks how Québec drivers’ perceptions and behaviours related to road safety evolve over time.

The first findings reveal a notable disconnect: while many drivers recognize the risks and sources of stress they face on the road, this awareness does not always translate into consistently safer driving behaviours.

In the winter survey, 86% of drivers reported feeling stressed behind the wheel, while 76% said they were distracted while driving. Yet only 48% said they always increase their following distance, while just 39% said they always reduce their speed in winter conditions. This is particularly noteworthy given that 41% of licence holders say they do not feel safe on Québec roads.

We Worry About Other Drivers… But What About Our Own Driving?

“We talk a lot about road conditions, traffic congestion and the behaviour of other motorists. But road safety also starts with a much more personal question: do I adjust my own driving when conditions call for it? After more than 40 years of training drivers, Tecnic wants to help inform that discussion with data that gives us a clearer picture of what is really happening behind the wheel. With the colder months approaching, adapting our driving to road conditions is an issue that needs to be addressed if we want to help make our roads safer,” said Isabel St-Laurent, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing at Tecnic.

Driving Concerns Change With the Seasons

The first two waves of the Tecnic Barometer also reveal that sources of stress and distraction vary considerably from season to season.

In winter, weather conditions are by far the leading concern, cited by 45% of drivers as their main source of distraction and by 46% as their main source of stress. By spring, weather gives way to other concerns: traffic congestion becomes the leading source of distraction, cited by 34% of drivers, while aggressive behaviour by other drivers becomes the leading source of stress, at 42%.

The Tecnic Barometer: Taking the Pulse of Québec Drivers

Launched as part of Road Respect Week, the Tecnic Barometer is designed to track year-over-year changes in the behaviours, perceptions and concerns of Québec drivers related to road safety.

Survey findings will be compiled on the Tecnic Hub, alongside analysis, trends and practical advice. The goal is to establish the platform as a go-to resource in Québec on driving behaviours for the general public, the media and road safety stakeholders.

The findings will also help inform Tecnic’s awareness and training initiatives. Based on the issues identified through the surveys — including distraction, speed, risky behaviours, sharing the road and perceptions of risk — Tecnic will develop dedicated content for learner drivers.

Key findings will also be shared with Tecnic instructors to inform their classroom teaching and encourage more discussion with young drivers about the realities observed on Québec roads.

“With the Tecnic Hub, we want to go beyond our role in driver training and, as an industry leader, put our experience to work to deepen understanding of road safety in Québec. By tracking how behaviours evolve over time, we hope to contribute to a broader discussion about road safety, support prevention efforts and, ultimately, help make our roads safer for everyone,” said Ronan Vandeputte, President of Groupe Tecnic Canada.

Methodology

The data comes from two online omnibus surveys conducted by Léger on behalf of Tecnic. The first was conducted from March 20 to 22, 2026, among 1,003 respondents, and the second from June 19 to 21, 2026, among 1,037 respondents. All respondents were Quebec residents aged 18 and over.

For comparison purposes, a probability sample of the same size would have a maximum margin of error of ±3.0%, 19 times out of 20.

About Tecnic

For more than 40 years, Tecnic has helped Quebecers learn to drive while promoting a culture of road safety across the province. With more than 200 schools and over 80,000 new students trained each year, Tecnic is Canada’s largest network of driving schools. Today, through the Tecnic Hub and research conducted in collaboration with Léger, the organization is expanding its mission by providing the public, the media and its partners with data, analysis and content designed to foster a better understanding of driving behaviours and contribute to safer roads.

SOURCE TECNIC