Manitoba RCMP nab 77% more distracted drivers in latest crackdown than last year

In this year'sannual crackdown on distracted driving, Manitoba RCMPhanded out 77 per cent more ticketsthan last year, the police force says.

RCMP handed out 175 tickets in April2016 for distracted driving, while last month officers nailed 310 drivers for the offence.

RCMPTraffic Sgt. Mark Hume said most people know distracted driving is dangerous but they think they're immune to the risks.

"I find people just have the attitude nowadays that it's not going to happen to me," said Hume.

• Manitoba distracted drivers to face stiffest penalties in Canada

Manitoba has some of the harshest penalties in Canada for distracted driving, which includes using a hand-held device or eating while behind the wheel.

If convicted, the offence carries a $203.80 fine and results in five demerits.

"I think if you asked most people to close their eyes and drive a football field with their eyes closed they would never, ever do that. But in essence that's what they're doing every time they look down at their phone," said Hume.

"You look down for a split second on your phone and you could be running over a kid or an animal or hitting another vehicle."

While the problem of distracted driving doesn't seem to be getting much better, the jump in tickets between last April and this year might also be explained by more better policing.

"This year, our enforcement has been stepped up compared to previous years. I think we put an extra focus on it this year," Hume said.

Police are using new enforcement techniques, including the use of unmarked SUVs and pickup trucks,to catch drivers with wandering attention.

Hume said the biggest problem group for distracted driving tends to be younger people.

"The 20- to 30- or 35-year-olds. The older folks aren't as addicted to theirsmartphones," he said.

• Virtual reality lets teens experience distracted, drunk driving without the consequences

DuringApril's Distracted Driving Month crackdown,RCMP focusedon drivers using phones.

Other distracted driving behaviours includedrinking, smoking, using a GPS map, reading and personal grooming, according to Manitoba Public Insurance.