If you use a hand-held device while driving your chances of getting caught just went up.
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) announced on Thursday, April 4, 2019, that they will be providing police in Winnipeg, Brandon, Winkler and Morden as well as the RCMP with funding to support enhanced enforcement programs.
“On average, one in three road deaths and thousands of collisions are attributed to distracted driving annually,” said Satvir Jatana, vice-president responsible for Communications, Manitoba Public Insurance. “These dedicated projects are highly successful, resulting in nearly 13,000 offence notices issued over the last six years. Changing driver behaviour can be achieved by the combination of education, awareness and law enforcement.”
According to MPI a driver is four times more likely to be involved in a crash if they talk on the phone while driving and six times more if they text and drive.
Drivers caught using a hand-held electronic device while driving get an automatic three day driver’s licence suspension along with a $672 fine and a loss of 5 merits if convicted.
If they are caught a second time within 10 years they receive a seven day suspension another $672 fine and five more demerits on conviction.
MPI says that distracted driving-related collisions jumped for 2,415 in 2011 to more than 15,000 in 2017 and that the direct cost associated with distracted driving for the public insurer is at least $70 million per year.
