Would you support vehicle impoundments and licence suspensions for distracted driving? B.C. government officials want to know.
British Columbians seem to be favouring increased fines for distracted driving penalties, the Ministry of Justice stated in a news release. Currently, B.C.’s distracted driving penalties — a $167 fine and three penalty points — are the second lowest in the country.
Since June 16, the province’s ‘distracted driving feedback website has been visited more than 11,800 times, totaling 36,250 responses. Ninety per cent of people leaving feedback stated they were “very concerned” about distracted driving and 96 per cent of them supported escalating sanctions for repeat offenders.
“It’s obvious we need to look at raising penalties from where they are currently, and we are committed to doing that,” said B.C.’s Attorney General Suzanne Anton.
Until July 16, Victoria wants to hear your thoughts on including vehicle impoundments and licence suspensions as penalties. To add your voice visit gov.bc.ca/distracteddriving or Tweet @RoadSafetyBC using the #distracteddriving hashtag.
“Over the remaining weeks of the consultation, our goal is to focus on the feedback from British Columbians and really hone in on what will make people put their phones away or avoid picking them up in the first place,” Anton said.
In 2014, police in B.C. handed out more than 55,000 distracted driving tickets, and 88 deaths in the province were attributed to the problem.
“Distracted driving is prevalent everywhere,” said Squamish RCMP Staff Sgt. Brian Cumming, noting police regularly enforce against it.
