B.C. police to crack down on distracted driving

Police agencies across British Columbia will be cracking down on distracted driving this month.

March is “Distracted Driving Awareness Month,” with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and local police province-wide teaming up for an awareness and enforcement blitz.

“All across the province, we’re going to be setting up operations to look out for these types of driving behaviours. We’re going to be making sure that drivers’ eyes are on the road and hands are on the wheel,” said Const. Mike Moore with the BC Highway Patrol.

Const. Mike Moore with the BC Highway Patrol. (CityNews Image)

According to ICBC, distracted driving contributes to 77 deaths in B.C. every year, along with nearly 40 per cent of police-reported vehicle crash injuries. In the Lower Mainland alone, there an average of 23 people are killed in distracted driving-related crashes annually.

Despite those figures, it appears many British Columbians continue to use their devices while behind the wheel. More than 140,000 distracted driving tickets have been issued since 2018 by police across B.C., the insurer says.

This month, ICBC and police across B.C. are raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving because even quick glances away from the road increase your risk of crashing. Please RT to remind drivers to #LeaveYourPhoneAlone.

Learn more: https://t.co/QVb9ERhrKe pic.twitter.com/NSxMsBMzPY

— ICBC (@icbc) March 6, 2023

Moore says that there are a couple of strategies drivers can use to ensure they get to their destination safely while staying connected.

“Having a designated texter — one of your passengers assigned to respond to those texts, to answer those emails, to take those phone calls. You can also make sure to pre-program your phone before you start your trip,” he said.

The penalty for getting caught driving while distracted, Moore says, can be steep.

Provincial Distracted Driving media event @icbc @BCHwyPatrol launch with @nvanrcmp @TransitPolice @BCRCMP @RoadSafetyBC Drivers are 3.6 times more likely to crash if using a smart phone, GPS, or any electronic device while driving. #LeaveYourPhoneAlone #EyesFwdBC pic.twitter.com/QtIm98jNtN

— RoadSafetyHarvey (@RoadSafetyHarv) March 6, 2023

“If we catch motorists using an electronic device today, the violation ticket for that is $368 along with four penalty points. It is very costly, but not as costly as someone’s life, and it’s not worth your life and it’s not worth anyone else’s life to make that text or to answer that phone call,” he said.

If you’re convicted of a distracted driving offence twice within a three-year span, it can result in up to $2,000 in fines, increases to insurance premiums, and in some cases, license suspension, ICBC says.

–With files from OMNI TV

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