Latest distracted driving numbers in Vancouver may surprise you

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – You probably see it all the time or maybe you do it yourself — looking at your phone while you’re behind the wheel, even at a red light.

Two-thirds of the way through a month-long distracted driving campaign in Vancouver and the statistics are pretty bad as officers say they’re a little stunned at just how many people they’re pulling over.

Since September 1st, Vancouver Police have issued about 1,500 distracted driving tickets.

VPD Constable Jason Doucette says it’s incredible — the law has been in effect for several years and people still don’t get it. “Changing behaviour doesn’t happen overnight and we do know that. We’re hoping with this current campaign and with all these violation tickets that are being given out, we’re hoping that these people go home, they learn a lesson — that they don’t do it again, but they tell two friends and it gets passed on.”

The latest statistics include two tickets handed to a tourist earlier this week who was busted six blocks part for the same offence within just eight minutes. “I’m shocked and I’m actually quite disappointed as a driver and a regular commuter here in Vancouver. But it’s not uncommon for me to pull up to a light, whether I’m in my personal vehicle or my police vehicle, and look to either side and normally I see someone with their head down looking at their lap.”

 

The man who was caught was from California so he doesn’t have to pay the premium for the ICBC penalty points.

The story outraged BC’s new Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth who admitted during an interview with NEWS 1130 this week that tougher penalties are being considered in BC. “If people are that stupid then they deserve the financial penalty they get and this is a classic example of someone having more money than brains, and they have been hit in the pocketbook.”

He wouldn’t say how high new penalties or fines may be.

The comment came as Ontario released details of a major crackdown on distracted drivers who cause death or serious harm with fines as high as $50,000 — the highest in the country if approved. The fines would be cumulative and the government is also threatening up to two years in jail and the possibility of someone losing their license for up to five years.

BC has always lagged behind many other provinces when it comes to handing out stiffer fines and only after a few years of the legislation being implemented did the former Liberal government increase the penalties.

Last summer, Victoria raised fines saying those caught with an electronic device while behind the wheel now have to pay a minimum of $543. That’s the sum of an initial $368 fine (an increase from the previous fine of $167) and the $175 to pay off points against the licence. A second offence within one year will cost $888. A fifth offence will cost $3,760 and a 10th runs $14,520.

To clarify, there is no specific distracted driving law in BC that only prohibits the use of a cellphone, a misconception by some people. The law prohibits the use of any hand-held electronic device and you can also be ticketed if you’re doing something that neglects you from controlling your car in a safe manner. It is illegal to check your phone or fiddle with something that’s distracting at a red light.

Last year, more than 43,000 distracted drivers were pulled over in BC, according to statistics from ICBC.