About a quarter of Canadians responding to a new poll admit they text or talk on their phones while driving and 30 percent admit doing it while walking, often bumping into other people or objects.
Photo Credit: CBC

Bad habits and mobile phones

As smartphone use increases, most Canadians believe that bad habits connected with their use are also increasing.

A new national survey conducted by the Leger polling firm for PC Mobile shows that 63 percent of Canadians think etiquette with mobile phones is getting worse and 75 percent of respondents admitted to breaking at least one legal or social rule.

These include 22 percent of respondents who admitted they have texted while driving, and 20 percent who had phone conversations behind the wheel without using hands free technology.

Another 30 percent admitted to talking or texting while walking.  Because of these actions, almost a quarter of respondents admitted that something unfortunate happened to them such as bumping into another person, or walking into a wall or post.

On the other hand, messages about increasing security of information seem to be working,

In this latest survey fully 91 percent said they had taken some measures to increase family safety with mobile devices compared to about 75 percent in a similar survey in 2012.

In that earlier survey only one-third of those polled said they had set ground rules for family use of mobile phones, whereas in this new survey, two-thirds said they did.

Limits of use were also increased with half saying they had set limits compared with only one-third of respondants in 2012.

Meanwhile, in the west coast province of British Columbia, the government-run  auto insurance bureau is asking for a 5.2 percent  increase in rates with the excuse that injury claims resulting from distracted driving accidents have increased dramatically.

In the central province of Ontario, the government plans to introduce a bill raising the fine for distracted driving (eg texting or talking on a cell phone) from $288 dollars to $1000 plus three demerits.

The President’s Choice poll was conducted july 25-29 and surveyed 1,336 Canadians

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