The BC Highway Patrol says too many British Columbians are choosing to ignore their seatbelts or are using their cellphones while driving. Those problems are reflected in ticket numbers from September’s Distracted Driving and Occupant Restraint Month.
“It’s simple. If we can get less people to drive while distracted, and more people to wear their seatbelts, then we will save more lives,” says Superintendent Mike Coyle with BC Highway Patrol. “We will keep writing tickets for people who don’t obey the law, but the real goal is public safety.”
BC Highway Patrol enforcement numbers for the September Distracted Driving and Occupant Restraint Month campaigns:
Regional tickets, use electronic device while driving ($368):
Vancouver Island: 76
Northern BC (including most communities north of 100 Mile House): 45
Central BC (including Merritt, Kelowna, Kamloops, Clearwater): 285
Kootenay region (including Revelstoke, Nelson, Cranbrook, Golden): 116
South Coast (including Metro Vancouver, Sea to Sky country, the Fraser Valley): 212
Total number of tickets: 734
Regional tickets, fail to wear seatbelt, ($167) plus other occupant restraint offences:
Vancouver Island: 79
Northern BC (including most communities north of 100 Mile House): 71
Central BC (including Merritt, Kelowna, Kamloops, Clearwater): 162
Kootenay region (including Revelstoke, Nelson, Cranbrook, Golden): 58
South Coast (including Metro Vancouver, Sea to Sky country, the Fraser Valley): 86
Total number of tickets: 456
“As we move into the Halloween season, and the days get shorter, it’s even more important that you eliminate distractions behind the wheel,” said Coyle. “Pedestrians are hard to see in the darkness and rain of fall. You need all of your attention to keep yourself, your loved ones, and the people in your neighbourhood safe on the roads.”
