Are you still seeing drivers texting at stoplights or scrolling in traffic?
So are we – and far too often.
In November, the Winnipeg Police Service launched dedicated resources towards Distracted Driving funded by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). Over a 20-day period, officers focused exclusively on identifying distracted drivers across the city.
The results are concerning:
- 573 Provincial Offence Notices issued for cellphone or hand-held electronic device use
- 41 additional Highway Traffic Act violations
- More than 30 distracted drivers stopped every day
These figures represent only the work of the dedicated WPS Traffic enforcement team. Additional enforcement statistics from other units are still being compiled.
“One glance away can change everything,” said Peter Braid, CEO of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada. “Staying focused behind the wheel is the simplest way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and everyone sharing the road.”
National Safe Driving Week: A Needed Call to Action
During National Safe Driving Week (Dec. 1–7), the WPS is joining national partners and road-safety advocates to highlight the very real costs of driver distraction – from preventable injuries and lost income to higher insurance premiums and lifelong impacts on health and mobility.
The national data underscores the urgency:
- Transport Canada estimates distraction is involved in 22.5% of fatal collisions and 25.5% of serious injury collisions nationwide.
- Research from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation shows that drivers 16–19 and 65+ are most frequently represented among fatally injured distracted drivers.
“A moment’s distraction can unravel a lifetime’s freedom,” said Gareth Jones, President and CEO of the Canada Safety Council. “Every glance away from the road is a gamble — and the odds are never in your favour.”
Why This Matters — Especially for Young Drivers
Young drivers often feel invincible or believe they can “multitask.” But the risks are immediate and life-altering:
- Freedom: A collision, injury, or licence suspension can take away your independence – your transportation, your job, your plans.
- Financial Cost: Fines, repairs, lost wages, and higher insurance premiums add up quickly.
- Physical Harm: Bodies break much easier than habits do. Your safety – and the safety of friends, pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers – depends on your focus.
If you think it “won’t happen to you,” remember: Almost everyone injured in a collision thought the same.
A Shared Responsibility
WPS officers will continue targeted enforcement efforts but lasting change depends on community behaviour, conversations at home, and drivers choosing focus over convenience.
Every alert can wait.
Every text can wait.
Every song change can wait.
Leave the phone alone when driving. Protect what matters.