Stricter Legislation Brewing in B.C. Government for Distracted Drivers

As collisions across the province continue to surge, B.C. government is looking at Ontario for inspirations to prevent distracted driving. New legislation proposed by Ontario government seeks penalties to reduce collisions — including aimed at distracted drivers who kill. Mike Farnworth, B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, believes that hitting people with penalties of similar nature will also deter BC drivers from distracted driving, which currently claims about 1 in 4 deaths on BC roads. Farnworth said,

“You have to enforce the rules that we’ve had, hit people in the pocket book, education campaign, and, in the case of distracted driving that causes death or serious bodily harm, look at what Ontario is doing.”

Critics like Criminal defence lawyer Paul Doroshenko, argue that higher penalties on their own might not result in lesser incidents of distracted driving. He believes having more officers on the ground to actively seek out distracted drivers and enforce penalties would prove more effective.

Current penalties in B.C. include a $368 traffic violation ticket that also carries four penalty points for each offence. Repeat offenders can also be slapped with 90-day driving prohibitions.

A combination of effective legislation and active enforcement might be just what we need to make the roads safer for everyone! Be road smart and put down the phone!