Should Texting and Driving Become a Criminal Offence?


Texting and driving is dangerous. You might not think that sending one quick text message is a very big deal, but it is. It takes your eyes, and your attention, away from the road. In Should Texting and Driving Become a Criminal Offence? 1fact, drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in a traffic accident. Compare that to just 4 to 5 times more likely for drivers making a phone call behind the wheel, or 3 times more likely when applying make-up.

Earlier this month Kanetix.ca commissioned a survey of about 1500 drivers – 84% agreed that texting and driving should be a criminal offence. In general, 73% felt that using a phone at all while driving should be considered criminal.

No matter how you feel about it, it is undeniable that texting while driving is a poor choice. Not only can it be dangerous for your health and everyone else you share the road with, but it can really put a pinch on your pocketbook as well. If you get caught texting, even at a red light, you can be fined up to $280. And guess what? We frown upon it in the insurance industry too, which means you may end up paying an additional $75 a year in premium increases.

Distracted driving accounts for 20% to 30% of all traffic accidents. Each year in Canada we suffer $10 billion in losses caused by collision related healthcare costs and lost productivity. That is roughly 1% of our GDP! But we can all help to decrease this number, and it starts with putting your phone down:

  • Keep temptation at bay and leave your phone just out of reach
  • Have one of your passengers read and return all text messages for you
  • If you must stop to read your messages or answer the phone, pull over somewhere safe to do so

Join us here at Alpine Insurance & Financial and vow to stop texting and driving today!

Sources – Majority of Canadians in poll think texting while driving should be a criminal offence Distracted Driving Statistics
Photo – © Stephen Fore – Fotolia.com

Comments are closed.