A Manitoba RCMP Constable says the statistics are disturbing.

Colin Choquette is referring to the number of people injured or killed in this province, as the result of distracted driving. According to Manitoba Public Insurance, an average of 28 people are killed each year in this province as the result of a distracted driver. More than 800 people are injured due to distracted driving, nearly 60 of them are serious injuries. MPI says nearly 2500 distracted drivers are involved in collisions each year and nearly 5000 drivers are convicted for using a hand-held electronic device while driving.

Choquette says under the Highway Traffic Act, being caught for distracted driver involves the use of a hand-held electronic device. This can include a cell phone, hand-held GPS or even iPads. But he says even though you can not be fined or convicted for the following; he sees people eating while driving, applying makeup while driving and even some who have a cigarette in one hand and their cell phone in the other while driving.

"Accidents due to distracted driving are now becoming very comparable to accidents caused by impaired driving," notes Choquette. "So that's a scary fact."

Choquette says the penalty for being caught using a hand-held electronic device is a fine of $203 in Manitoba plus five demerit points.

"I don't look at, it's going to cost me two hundred dollars to get caught, I'm going to lose five demerits, I look at the public safety aspect of it," says Choquette. "The reality is, if you're driving while you're distracted, there is a real potential that people can get hurt or in a worse case scenario killed."

Choquette says distracted driving is not going away and officers continue to see Manitobans breaking the law.