Students go texting and karting

The dangers of texting while driving have been well documented in numerous studies but the automobile association wanted to give students a chance to test that out — as well as a new cell phone application designed to prevent it — on a controlled circuit.

Dazreen Paran, one of 25 students from John Taylor Collegiate to take the challenge on an obstacle course at Thunder Rapids Fun Park, just west of Winnipeg, said she learned how dangerous it can be.

"It's really, really hard. I don't remember driving because I was way too focused on my phone and I kept going into the wrong lanes," she said.

Many students admitted to having friends who text while driving — which became against the law in the province as of July 15 — but most insisted they had never done it.

For parents who are concerned about the dangers, Manitoba CAA is offering an application called Zoomsafer, which shuts down a cell phone when it's in a vehicle travelling more than 24 kph.

Zoomsafer is available through CAA Manitoba for $25 or $2.99 per month.