One in four road deaths related to distracted driving: Manitoba Public Insurance

One in four deaths on the road can be attributed to distracted driving, according to Manitoba Public Insurance.

The public insurer says that more than 160 road deaths have been linked to distracted driving since 2005, which translates to an average of 25 per year.

“Cell phones don’t cause crashes, distracted drivers do,” MaryAnn Kempe, vice president of community and corporate relations for MPI said in a statement.

“A texting driver, whose eyes are focused on their device, represents a clear danger on the road,” she said. “Other distractions include eating, smoking and personal grooming while driving.”

MPI says that 84% of Manitobans see cell phone use while driving as a serious problem.

“The average time spent sending a text message is 4.6 seconds – at 90 km/h, you’ll travel the length of a CFL football field in that time,” Kempe noted.

This week, MPI launched its first-ever awareness campaign for distracted driving. The “Your Last Words” campaign focuses on the perils of texting and driving, and is aimed mainly at young drivers between ages 15 and 25.

The insurer says that a texting driver is 23 times more likely to have a collision than a non-texting driver. It also says that driving inattention may play a role in about 80% of collisions in the province.

Using handheld devices while driving is illegal in the province, and drivers caught using their cell phone, iPod or other handheld devices will receive a $200 ticket.