While everyone may enjoy and appreciate the sense of security and peace that comes with feeling safe, a surprisingly large number of Canadians aren't taking steps to stay protected.
According to a recent survey conducted by Michelin Canada, a whopping 80 per cent of Canadians don't think of improving their safety in various aspects of their life, whether it's on the road, at home or work.
For instance, when Canadians are behind the wheel of a car, just 40 per cent say they feel safe there and a mere 25 per cent say they they're sufficiently prepared for the unexpected. Despite this, almost 85 per cent of these same people don't think about what they can do to improve their safety in the car, such as enhancing their car insurance coverage or practicing routine vehicle maintenance.
Tony Mougios, director of marketing at Michelin Canada, noted that ensuring your tires are high-quality and properly inflated can work wonders in enhancing driver safety, as can knowing how to perform common repair jobs, such as how to change a flat tire.
However, as a separate study suggests, one of the reasons why some people may not feel as safe as they would like to be is because they don't know how to do certain tasks.
As conducted by not-for-profit foundation Skills/Competences Canada, the survey found many Canadians don't have the skills needed to perform certain practical, everyday issues that would come in handy when things go wrong.
For instance, close to 33 per cent said they wouldn't know what to do to fix a light fixture and more than one in four said they were clueless when it came to changing a flat tire. This percentage jumped to nearly 50 per cent among women.
Shaun Thorson, CEO for the human resources organization, indicated this poses a problem for these individuals themselves as well as those they work for.
"There's a serious underlying message here that many Canadians are lacking basic, practical knowledge when it comes to completing everyday skills, admitting they require help," said Thorson. "The growing shortage of skilled trade workers is not only a concern for industry - it is only a matter of time before every Canadian will feel the impact in their everyday lives."
