CAA Worst Roads campaign gives Ontarians chance to pave way forward
The road to ruin can become the pathway to redemption.
Ontarians can now nominate the worst roads they'd like to see fixed in their communities as part of the 22nd CAA Worst Roads Campaign from now through to April 18.
According to the Worst Roads survey, nearly half of respondents have experienced vehicle damage because of poor roads with 81% paying out of pocket to repair their vehicle, only 3% filing a claim with their personal auto insurance, and 9% foregoing repairs altogether.
'Our research shows that 85% of Ontarians are concerned about the state of our roads,' said Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president of government and community relations, CAA South Central Ontario, in a statement.
'The campaign has been a vital platform for Ontarians to nominate roads they believe need urgent attention. It allows Ontarians to drive positive change in their communities by amplifying their voices. With the increasing cost of living, many people hold on to their cars for longer when damaged, the last thing they need is expensive repair bills on an already stretched household budget.'
The poll says vehicle damage caused by potholes and poor road maintenance can range from $500 to over $2,000 and the average repair by those surveyed cost $933, a significant $81 increase from 2024.
The survey also found that cracked pavement remains the No. 1 issue (88%), followed by potholes (84%) and congestion (81%) — up 4% from 2024.
One of the highest-climbing issues is reduced or closed lanes with 78% of respondents saying it's common in their region — up 6% from last year.
'The frustration from motorists is evident,' Di Felice said. 'Congestion continues to grow as one of the top road-related concerns for Ontarians, and the CAA Worst Roads campaign allows governments the insight into what repairs need to be prioritized for their communities.'
Hamilton's Aberdeen tops CAA list of Ontario's worst road for 2024
Four Toronto streets on CAA worst road list, Hamilton on top
The poll also found that more than half of respondents (64% ) also agreed that not enough is currently being done to maintain the roads in their area.
'We know that the campaign works and that decision-makers are listening. Since the start of the campaign, we have seen budgets prioritized and road repairs moved up,' Di Felice said. 'In the last four campaigns, we have seen 10 roads receive attention because of their nomination in the CAA Worst Roads campaign.'
Once the nominations are collected, CAA will reveal the top 10 worst roads in the province to the public.
CAA conducted an online survey with 2,370 CAA SCO members between Jan. 6-14, 2025. Based on the sample size and the confidence level (95%), the margin of error for this study was +/- 2 per cent.
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