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If you get a distracted driving conviction in Alberta, you can expect to pay around 24 per cent more in auto insurance, according to a new report.

The report, released by LowestRates.ca, found that a hypothetical 29-year-old driving a 2018 Mazda in Downtown Calgary who gets a distracted driving conviction can expect their monthly insurance premiums to jump $58 — or, just under $700 per year.

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Add a second conviction and that number increases by another $26 each month. Additionally, distracted driving carries a $287 penalty plus three demerit points in Alberta.

“We wanted to show just how expensive this can get, beyond just the fine from the police, perhaps with the hope of dissuading Canadians from driving while distracted,” said LowestRate.ca CEO Justin Thouin.

According to data released by the province, in 2019 through March 31, there were over 23,000 distracted driving convictions in Alberta. Though the number of distracted driving convictions has decreased by 14 per cent since 2015, instances have actually increased by 42 per cent in Edmonton over the same timespan.