Some 33 per cent of Canadians who participated in a recent poll conducted by the Canadian Automobile Association admit they have texted while stopped at a red light in the last month.
That's despite tough financial penalties for distracted driving across the country in addition to the loss of demerit points.
Jeff Walker, the vice-president of public affairs at the CAA, says the numbers are troubling.
He says the effect of texting at a red light lingers well after the light turns green, making it a dangerous driving habit.
The survey also suggests that nearly 70 per cent of Canadians believe using their phone at a red light is unacceptable.
The CAA polled 2,012 Canadians for its survey. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.