A woman uses an iPad while behind the wheel of a vehicle stopped in traffic at a red light in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, October 20, 2014. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
WINNIPEG — As Distracted Driving Awareness Month begins, new data from Manitoba Public Insurance shows a rise in licence suspensions for distracted driving in 2024, surpassing the past five years.
So far this year, 2,817 drivers have received three-day suspensions, while 150 faced seven-day suspensions. This marks an increase from 2023, when 2,469 drivers were suspended for three days and 98 for seven days.
Despite the rise in penalties, distracted driving collisions have decreased, with 675 recorded incidents in 2024, down from 795 in 2022. About 60 percent of these crashes occurred in Winnipeg.
“Distracted driving is the number one cause of fatalities on Manitoba roadways,” said Maria Campos, MPI’s vice-president and chief customer and product officer.
“Distraction can come in many forms, but when you are driving, that is the only thing you should be doing. Make safety your only priority when you are behind the wheel and focus on the road.”
In Manitoba, distracted driving can result in fines up to $672 and a five-level reduction on the driver safety rating scale.
