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MEDIA RELEASE: CAA Research Finds Distracted Driving and Speeding Are the Top Two Road Safety Concerns in Manitoba

Jul 30, 2025

3 min

Ewald Friesen
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A new survey conducted by CAA Manitoba found that Manitobans are very worried about the dangerous driving they’ve seen across the province, especially distracted driving and speeding.


The study found that 88 per cent of Manitoba drivers feel somewhat or very concerned about distracted driving. According to Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), distracted driving is now the number one cause of fatalities on Manitoba roadways.


“It is no surprise that Manitobans are concerned about the dangerous driving they have witnessed, especially when it comes to distracted drivers,” says Ewald Friesen, manager, government & community relations for CAA Manitoba. “What is most concerning, however, is that currently, Manitoba does not have a specific distracted driving law, which could help deter distracted drivers and increase road safety.”


CAA Manitoba’s research indicates that almost half (46 per cent) of Manitobans have admitted to being distracted drivers, while most (63 per cent) have witnessed a close-call collision or traffic violation caused by distracted driving.


Most concerning, 13 per cent of drivers reported being directly involved in a collision due to distracted driving. Our research found that more than half of Manitobans believe increasing fines and penalties can discourage distracted drivers.


“We know that drivers who text are far more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash compared to non-distracted drivers,” adds Friesen. “Distractions inside and outside your vehicle can draw your focus away from where it needs to be most.”


In addition to distracted driving, speeding continues to be a significant problem in Manitoba, and Automatic Speed Enforcement (ASE) may be an additional tool that has been shown in other jurisdictions to help.


Additional research conducted by CAA shows that 82 per cent of Manitobans stated that speeding is also a problem this year. That same study found that 65 per cent of drivers support the use of ASE cameras. In fact, almost three-quarters of Manitobans say that ASE can help deter speeding and slow drivers down.


“ASEs can be a valuable tool in positively shifting driver behaviour and protecting vulnerable road users, especially in areas with schools and community centres,” says Friesen. “Photo radar cameras should not be used as a revenue generator but rather as a tool to encourage safe driving behaviours, especially in school zones.”


As of right now, Winnipeg is the only municipality in Manitoba with the right to use photo enforcement; however, other municipalities continue to lobby for similar rights.


In addition to tools such as ASE cameras, Manitobans support higher fines and harsher penalties or suspensions, especially for repeat offenders. Over half of Manitobans (60 per cent) believe increasing the penalties on repeat offenders is the most effective way to discourage drivers from speeding, especially in school zones or near community centres.


“CAA Manitoba continues to advocate for safer roads across all municipalities, especially for vulnerable road users,” says Friesen. “Standardized practices across municipalities regarding distracted driving laws and ASE cameras can help ensure that they are used in a predictable way that improves road safety and reinforces public trust.”


For more information about dangerous driving and road safety, visit: www.caamanitoba.com/advocacy 

Speeding and Dangerous Driving Methodology
The online survey was conducted by DIG Insights from March 7 to March 19, 2025, with 500
Manitoba drivers aged 18 and older. Based on the sample size of n=500 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for this research is +/- 3%.)
Distracted Driving Methodology
The online survey was conducted by DIG Insights from February 11 to February 21, 2025, with 506 Manitoba drivers aged 18 and older. Based on the sample size of n=506 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for this research is +/- 3%.)




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Ewald Friesen

Ewald Friesen

Manager, Government and Community Relations

Ewald manages CAA's advocacy and community relations efforts in Manitoba.

Congestion ManagementSchool Zone SafetyRoad SafetyGovernment & Community RelationsPolicy Advocacy
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