Almost all Canadians agree that texting while driving is unacceptable, but they’re still doing it in significant numbers, according to new poll results from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).

The poll found that 90% of Canadians say texting while driving is socially unacceptable.

“We still need to close that gap between belief and behaviour,” says Jeff Walker, CAA vice president of public affairs. “But we are on the right track”.

Texting while driving emerged as a concern just a few years ago. It is now illegal in all provinces but, as with other road safety issues such as seatbelt usage and drinking and driving, laws are only part of the equation.

“The next step is to make texting and driving as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving,” Walker says. “CAA will continue to do our part along with other road safety advocates so Canadians actually stop doing it.”

In the same poll, Canadians say they observed an average of six people texting while driving within the last month. Additionally, 22 per cent of Canadians admitted to reading or sending a text message while driving recently.

The three most common reasons people cite for texting and driving are connecting with family, urgent personal matters and work, according to the poll.

CAA also asked Canadians to rank their top 10 road safety concerns. The poll found they are, in order: texting or emailing while driving; drinking and driving; drivers running red lights; speeding on residential streets; driving aggressively; sleepy drivers; driving after using illegal drugs; talking on cell phones while driving; driving well over the speed limit; and talking to or engaging with their in-car systems.

The results are based on a poll of 1,252 Canadians. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-2.8%, 19 times out of 20.