Leading Causes of Car Accidents in Canada, and How You Can Stay Safe

Published: November 5, 2024 | Last Reviewed: November 6, 2026

Car accidents can happen for many reasons, but serious and fatal collisions often involve the same recurring factors: excessive speed, impairment, distraction and difficult road or weather conditions.

For Alberta drivers, the legal context is also about to change. The province’s new Care-First automobile insurance system is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, bringing significant changes to accident benefits and limiting the circumstances in which an injured person can sue. Collisions that happen before that date will continue to be handled under the current system.

Against that backdrop, Transport Canada’s latest available annual collision statistics show which factors are most commonly associated with fatal crashes across the country. The data also shows why it is important to think of them as contributing factors rather than isolated causes, since more than one can be present in the same collision.

Below, we break down the latest national data, look at how the same risks are showing up on Alberta roads, and explain what to do if you are involved in a collision.

Key Takeaways

• Transport Canada recorded 1,964 motor vehicle fatalities in 2023, the highest annual total in a decade and a 1.7% increase over 2022.
• Among the specific factors highlighted in Transport Canada’s 2023 data, speed or driving too fast was reported in 24.8% of fatal collisions, followed by impaired driving at 21.9%.
• Environmental factors were reported in 20.1% of fatal collisions and distraction in 17.8%.
• These percentages overlap because a single collision can involve more than one contributing factor. Transport Canada’s 2023 figures, released on May 15, 2025, are the latest available annual national statistics in this series.

What Are the Leading Contributing Factors in Fatal Car Accidents in Canada?

Speeding and Driving Too Fast

Speeding or driving too fast was the leading specific contributing factor reported in fatal collisions in Canada, present in 24.8% of cases, according to Transport Canada.

Speed was attributed more than any other single factor, including impairment.

Speed reduces a driver’s reaction time, increases stopping distance, and makes it harder to judge distances to other vehicles or obstacles. It also increases the severity of a crash if one happens.

Driving too fast does not necessarily mean exceeding the posted speed limit.

A driver can also be travelling too fast for the current road, traffic, or weather conditions.

This is particularly important in Alberta, where snow, ice, and rapidly changing winter conditions can make a speed that would normally be reasonable unsafe.

Under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act, posted speed limits reflect ideal road conditions. Driving at a speed that’s unsafe for current conditions is a separate offence, even when under the limit, and carries its own $243 fine.

Reducing speed gives drivers more time to recognize hazards and react to changing conditions. It can also reduce the severity of a collision when one does occur.

Impaired Driving

Impaired driving or driving under the influence was reported as a contributing factor in 21.9% of fatal collisions in 2023.

Impairment is not limited to alcohol.

Cannabis, illegal drugs and some prescription and over-the-counter medications can also affect a person’s ability to drive safely. Impaired driving includes operating any vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both, and covers more than just cars: trucks, boats, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and ATVs are all included under impaired driving law.

In Alberta, impaired driving is enforced through the province’s Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) program. An IRS penalty can mean an immediate licence suspension, vehicle seizure of up to 30 days, and fines on top of any Criminal Code charges.

If you have been injured in a collision caused by an impaired driver, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers Alberta for a free consultation. We can explain your legal options and help you understand the compensation and benefits that may be available.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors were reported in 20.1% of fatal collisions in Canada.

This category can include conditions outside the driver’s immediate control, such as poor weather, reduced visibility and difficult road conditions. These factors can become particularly important during Alberta winters.

Snow and ice can reduce traction, while fog, blowing snow and heavy precipitation can make it harder to see other vehicles, road markings and hazards.

Alberta 511 classifies visibility as poor when conditions can suddenly reduce a driver’s range of vision to less than 250 metres.

Drivers should check road and weather conditions before travelling and adjust their driving accordingly. The Government of Alberta recommends slowing down on winter roads, increasing following distance, avoiding sudden braking or steering movements and avoiding cruise control in slippery conditions.

Environmental conditions may not always be preventable, but drivers can reduce the risks by giving themselves more time and space to respond.

Distracted Driving

Distraction was reported as a contributing factor in 17.8% of fatal collisions.

Transport Canada defines distracted driving as any situation where “a driver’s attention is taken away from the driving task because they are focused on something else.” Distracted driving includes talking to passengers, eating or drinking, and adjusting a GPS or radio, not just phone use.

In Alberta, a distracted driving conviction carries a $390 fine and three demerit points, and covers hand-held device use, texting, reading, writing, and personal grooming behind the wheel.

Not every distraction is specifically prohibited under Alberta’s distracted driving law.

However, police can lay other charges when an activity interferes with a person’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. Putting your phone away, setting navigation before leaving and pulling over when something requires your attention are simple ways to reduce avoidable distractions behind the wheel.

Other Factors That Can Contribute to Fatal Collisions

Speeding, impairment, environmental conditions, and distraction are not the only factors Transport Canada tracks.

Fatigue was reported in 3.3% of fatal collisions and vehicle factors in 3%.

Transport Canada also recorded an “other human factor” in 62.9% of fatal collisions. Although this percentage is higher than speeding, it represents a broad catch-all category covering multiple human-related factors rather than one specific behaviour. For that reason, it is not directly comparable with individual factors such as speeding, impairment or distraction, and should not be treated as the single leading cause of fatal collisions.

More than one of these factors can be present in the same collision.

For example, a driver may be speeding while distracted on a snow-covered road. That is why the percentages reported by Transport Canada overlap rather than adding up to 100%.

What Do Alberta-Specific Collision Statistics Show?

Recent Alberta data suggests that many of the same factors identified nationally are also becoming more prominent closer to home.

Between January and August 2026, Alberta RCMP recorded 192 traffic deaths on the roads it patrols, up from 144 during the same period in 2025. If that trend continues, 2026 could see the highest number of traffic fatalities on RCMP-patrolled Alberta roads in a decade.

The increase is not limited to fatal collisions. Injury collisions on roads patrolled by Alberta RCMP are up 24% compared with 2022.

Several of the behaviours highlighted in the national data above are also showing concerning trends in Alberta. Between January and August 2026, RCMP issued 570 tickets to drivers travelling at least 50 km/h over the speed limit, the highest number recorded over that period since 2022. Impaired-driving incidents have increased 15% since 2022, while offences involving electronic handheld devices and other distracting behaviour have increased 52%.

These figures do not mean that speeding, impairment or distraction alone are responsible for the increase in deaths. Alberta RCMP has pointed to a combination of unsafe behaviours, including excessive speed, impaired and distracted driving, and failure to wear seatbelts.

It is also important to note that these figures cover roads under Alberta RCMP jurisdiction rather than every collision across the province. Conditions can vary significantly depending on where and when you are driving.

In Calgary, for example, our analysis of City of Calgary traffic incident data found that traffic incidents have been increasing year over year. Southeast and northeast Calgary consistently recorded the highest volumes, while the late-afternoon period between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. emerged as the busiest window for incidents.

Together, the national, provincial and local data show that there is no single explanation for serious collisions. Driver behaviour, road conditions, location and time of day can all influence the risks motorists face.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Alberta?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Alberta, the steps you take afterwards can affect both your health and any insurance or legal claim that follows.

1. Check for injuries and call 911 if needed.
2. Exchange information with the other driver or drivers and document the scene, including photographs, licence plates, insurance details and witness information where possible.
3. Seek medical attention, especially if you are experiencing pain, dizziness or other symptoms that may not have been obvious immediately after the collision.
4. Be careful about what you say after the accident. Avoid admitting fault or speculating about what happened before all of the facts are known.
5. Understand your insurance and legal options, particularly if you have been injured, fault is disputed, or you are having difficulty with an insurer.

There are also several mistakes that can make a claim more difficult.

Our guide to common myths about car accident claims in Alberta explains some of the misconceptions injured people should be aware of.

If you decide to seek legal advice, our guide to choosing a car accident law firm in Alberta covers the questions worth asking before hiring a lawyer. And if you use social media after a collision, be careful about what you post. Photos, comments and updates can potentially be reviewed as part of a personal injury claim. Read more about social media and personal injury claims.

Injured in a Car Accident in Alberta?

The statistics in this article show that serious collisions can result from a combination of speeding, impairment, distraction, road conditions and other factors. But no two accidents are exactly the same, and the options available to an injured person will depend on the circumstances of their case.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers to discuss your options. We offer free consultations and can help you understand the insurance benefits and compensation that may be available to you.

Call 1-888-494-7191 to speak with Preszler Injury Lawyers.

We’re here to help.