Driving distracted will net five demerits as of July 1.

The province announced the toughened sanctions in June, but now they're coming into effect.

“This change sends a clear message to all Manitobans that our government is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on the road,” said Attorney General Gord Mackintosh. “We know that distracted driving is a serious problem in our province that contributes to collisions, fatalities and serious injuries.”

Manitoba will now have the highest demerit sanction associated with talking on hand-held cellphones or texting while driving in the country.

An average of 28 people are killed due to distracted driving each year in Manitoba, while nearly 2,500 distracted drivers are involved in collisions annually.

“There is no denying that talking on a hand-held cellphone and texting are both major distractions while driving,” said Mackintosh. “Even the quickest phone call or shortest text message when behind the wheel can result in tragedy.”

The financial impact of five demerits ranges from $300 to $3,000 for drivers who already have poor records. Before the change, distracted driving tickets came with two demerits and a $200 fine.