9°c A few clouds
19°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Texting and talking while driving remains a problem
The fine for drivers talking or texting while using a hand-held device is $199.80. (MIKE.DEAL@FREEPRESS.MB.CA )
Two years after the province banned texting and talking on hand-held phones while driving, motorists’ behaviour hasn’t changed much, a survey by CAA Manitoba shows.
But the association says public opinion on the issue of distracted driving has indeed shifted.
"CAA Members identify distracted driving as the number one road safety concern," said Liz Peters, public and government affairs manager for CAA Manitoba. "But even though two full years have passed since the law came into effect, they say that motorist habits haven’t changed much."
Of the more than 5,600 survey respondents, 99.7 per cent said since the law has been in effect, they still see motorists talking or texting. This number is virtually unchanged from a similar survey in 2011.
"The difference in this year’s survey is that on a daily basis, 61.5 per cent of respondents said they see someone talking or texting while driving," said Peters, noting an increase of 10 per cent in sightings over 2011.
The largest jump comes from the perception it’s unlikely someone talking or texting will be caught by police. Overall, 82.6 per cent of respondents agree that’s the case, up 15 per cent since 2011.
The fine for drivers talking or texting while using a hand-held device is $199.80.
CAA has engaged in several public awareness education campaigns to help get the message out that talking and texting while driving is dangerous. Distracted Driving 101, for example, is an annual event that challenges high school students to find out firsthand how distractions impair their driving ability.
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Couple faces new charges of sexual assault
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- The end of the credit card?
- Gentle, humble native leader who made history lies in state
- Goose gets cooked in Linden Woods
- WAG's 100 Masters exhibit drawing more than art aficionados
- Police identify slaying victims
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- Police identify slaying victims
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- 'Responsible Winnipeg' ads appear on sign run by mayor-owned Goldeyes' baseball park
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Headingley grass fire destroys dealership's cars
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Man missing since 2009 found safe
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- U of M to chop $5M out of $642-M budget
- U of M researchers awarded $9.5M in grants, U of W $2.2M
- Goose gets cooked in Linden Woods
- Gentle, humble native leader who made history lies in state
- WAG's 100 Masters exhibit drawing more than art aficionados
- Elijah Harper: The humble man who said no
- New main event confirmed at Winnipeg’s UFC 161 due to Barao injury
- Province courts European workers
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Fishing for fashion
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- Newly minted MD a beacon for kids in youth program
- North End proud
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Black market in moose thrives
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.