Highway Patrol upping distracted driving, seatbelt enforcement in March

B.C. Highway patrol will be cracking down on distracted drivers and people not wearing seatbelts next month.

The Insurance Corporation of B.C.’s (ICBC) most recent data showed distracted driving was the third highest contributor to fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023, with an average of 79 deaths each year across the province.

High risk driving, including following too close, ignoring traffic control devices, and unsafe passing, was the highest contributing factor with an average of 117 fatal crashes in B.C. each year. Speed was the second highest contributing actor with an average of 88 deaths on B.C. roads annually.

With those figures in mind, B.C. Highway Patrol will take steps to ensure people are paying attention when behind the wheel in March.

“Distracted driving, along with speeding and impaired driving, is consistently one of the top three contributors to fatal crashes in B.C.,” Corporal Michael McLaughlin with B.C. Highway Patrol, said.

“We often hear drivers ask for a warning. Distracted driving is so risky that your warning will be a violation ticket. The real consequences would be to get hurt or worse.”

Highway Patrol added an average of 53 people die in B.C. each year due to improper use of seatbelts, and officers would be cracking down on people not using restraints during the month as well.

The policing agency said it would be focusing on “education through enforcement” regarding distracted driving and seatbelts through March, and encouraged people to make sure they were taking steps to be safe while driving.