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Canada  

Walk, look up, or else

Could there come a time when you'll get a ticket for texting while you walk down the street?

It could happen, and a majority of Canadians seem to think its an idea whose time has come.

A new nation-wide survey conducted by Insights West found two-third of Canadians are in favour of distracted walking legislation in their municipality,

The poll shows 66 per cent of Canadians and 80 per cent of those 55 and over, would support such a bylaw in their city.

Quebecers have the strongest opinion, with 74 per cent in favour.

The poll was conducted as some cities in Canada contemplate making it against the law to be on a mobile device while walking

Two Vancouver councillors have come out in support of such a bylaw.

Toronto city council asked the province of Ontario to ban the practice province-wide. The answer was no.

Calgary looked into a bylaw, but voted it down.

The poll was conducted between Sept. 6 and 8, during the height of the Pokemon Go craze.

While Canadians feel the need to legislate texting and walking, the same poll shows half of all Canadians believe distracted driving legislation is working.

Only 51 per cent of Canadians believe laws banning the use of hand-held devices by drivers are actually effective.

Residents of Alberta (49%), Atlantic Canada (44%) and Ontario (41%) are more likely to believe that existing distracted driving laws have been ineffective, while only one-in-four Quebecers (25%) feel the same way.

“Canadians are definitely happy with the existence of distracted driving legislation, yet they continue to see drivers using hand-held devices with no consequences,” says Mario Canseco, VP of public affairs, at Insights West.

“It is this perceived failure of enforcement that is making Canadians question the effectiveness of the law.”



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