The B.C. government plans to roll out new sanctions against distracted driving in the next three months, but they’re unlikely to include stiffer fines, says Attorney General Suzanne Anton.
A senior Victoria police officer has called for fines that are higher than the $167 introduced on Feb. 1, 2010, but Anton said that’s not being considered.
The province is looking to raise the number of demerit points associated with some kinds of distracted driving, but plans to keep the fine at $167, Anton said in a statement to the Times Colonist.
Texting infractions currently net three demerits, but there are no demerits for talking on a cellphone while driving.
“I am concerned that distracted driving is the second-largest contributing factor in motor-vehicle fatalities on B.C. roads,” Anton said. “We know that it will take a number of steps in order to change this dangerous behaviour, including education, enforcement and penalties.”
The minister said she hopes the province will be able to take “an initial step” before year’s end.
Distracted driving — often the result of drivers texting or talking on cellphones — is a growing problem. ICBC is raising rates 5.2 per cent for all drivers, citing a $500-million increase in injury claims for distracted driving in the past five years.
Distracted driving was blamed for 81 deaths on B.C. roads in 2012, while 55 were attributed to impaired driving. But speeding is still the top cause of deaths on B.C. roads.
In reviewing the rules, the province found distracted drivers are not taking penalties seriously enough, Anton said.
“Early indications are that many of the most frequent offenders who are caught talking on their phone in the car just see those tickets as the cost of doing business,” she said. “Where we are looking to land with potential changes — at least to start with — is to make the consequences last longer.”
Demerit points stay on a driver’s record for at least two years. More demerits mean drivers could be monitored under the Driver Improvement Program and could lead to penalties such as a driving prohibition and higher insurance rates, Anton said.
Four demerit points will trigger a penalty of $175 from ICBC.
There were 51,000 B.C. drivers sanctioned last year for distracted driving.
Victoria police Deputy Chief Del Manak said that when the fine was introduced, he thought drivers talking or texting on cellphones would get the message, but they haven’t.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the current $167 fine is not sufficient to set a deterrence for many of the people who continue to text and drive or talk on their cellphone and drive,” Manak said.
B.C.’s distracted-driving fine is among the lowest in Canada. Ontario is poised to raise its fine to a minimum of $300 and a maximum of $1,000.
Manak said impounding a vehicle should be an option for repeated distracted-driving infractions. He believes most people would support tougher penalties because they see the evidence themselves and feel at risk.
Saanich Police Chief Bob Downie said it’s the government’s responsibility to conduct an assessment to show that stiffer fines will diminish distracted driving.
Oak Bay Chief Andy Brinton said society takes immediate communication as the norm, which means distracted driving will be harder to eradicate than impaired driving.
“It is likely far more prevalent than impaired driving ever was and generally seen as benign by many.”
