A poll by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) suggests most Canadians believe texting and driving is a bigger problem than it was three years ago.

So does Staff Sgt. Rob Marsollier from the Red Deer RCMP detachment.

“You can’t drive in the city of Red Deer, or any city for that matter, without seeing somebody at a stoplight looking down or driving with a handheld device,” said Marsollier.

“It’s just so obvious. You’ll be right beside them at a traffic light and they’re not even noticing because they’re so distracted.”

Ninety-six per cent of respondents to the CAA survey said drivers who text and drive are a threat to their safety.

Canadians now view texting and driving as the biggest road safety concern, according to the CAA.

In a statement today, CAA’s chief strategy officer Jeff Walker said studies show drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash when texting and driving.

In the survey, 2,003 Canadians were sampled. The margin of error was plus or minus 2.19 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

In 2016, the penalty for a distracted driving violation under the Traffic Safety Act became $287 and three demerit points.

Under the Criminal Code, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death carries a prison term up to 14 years.

Marsollier said changing drivers’ habits will take education or first-hand experience.

“I don’t believe straight prosecution is going to help matters here. It’s going to be more of an education process where it will come to a point where (drivers) will see a lot of collisions taking place are possibly due to distracted driving,” he said.

“Or, somebody they know directly has been involved, injured and as a result, you’ll take that a lot more seriously.”