Distracted driving on the rise
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Winnipeg Free Press subscription for only
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $4.99 a X percent off the regular rate.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
WINNIPEG — New data revealed by Manitoba Public Insurance Tuesday showed police across the province issued more licence suspensions for distracted driving in 2024 than in the previous five years.
Last year, 2,817 drivers were suspended for three days for first-time distracted driving offences, while 150 repeat offenders were suspended for seven days. In 2023, there were 2,469 three-day suspensions and 98 seven-day suspensions, MPI said in a news release.
The public insurer called distracted driving the leading cause of roadway fatalities in Manitoba.
Distracted driving caused 675 collisions in the province last year. That is down from 2022, when a high of 795 was recorded.
Many factors can take motorists’ attention away from the road, including cellphones, pets, children and other passengers. They all create a hazard by reducing reaction times, MPI said.
“When you aren’t looking at the road, you don’t have the ability to react to something unexpected, and those few seconds can be the difference between preventing a collision or causing one,” the news release said.
“Being distracted can cause you to swerve, run a red light or fail to notice vulnerable road users like pedestrians or cyclists, all of which can potentially have fatal consequences.”
Road-safety educator Sandra LaRose knows first-hand the dangers posed by distracted driving. Her 16-year-old daughter, Kailynn Bursic-Panchuk, died in 2018 when she drove her vehicle into the path of a train. An investigation determined the teenager was blaring music and looking at her phone in the seconds before the collision.
“I anticipated that she was going to be coming home and we would be having supper, doing the chores and everything else. Instead, six days later, I’m signing the consent form for organ donation. People just need to realize that your fast-paced life can end,” LaRose said by phone.
The bereaved mother noted distracted driving is statistically as dangerous as driving while impaired, but is not seen that way by the general public.
Fines for people caught driving while distracted can reach up to $672 and cost five demerits on MPI’s scale. Repeat offences can result in a licence suspension. Additional penalties can be imposed for offences caused by distraction, including running red lights or causing collisions.
» Winnipeg Free Press