Tracy Sim, Times-Chronicle

BC Highway Patrol and police across the province remind us that in March they will step up enforcement on the use of seatbelts and will be on the lookout for distracted drivers.

The stats are clear. Distracted driving causes 25 per cent of all crash fatalities, killing an average of 76 people a year, making it the second leading cause of fatal collisions in B.C. On average, 29 people a year are killed from distracted driving in the South Okanagan.

In a recent Ipsos survey, 42 per cent of drivers admit to using their phones at least one out of 10 times behind the wheel. There appears to be a disconnect, as of those same drivers, 93 per cent believe it’s dangerous to text and drive while 84 per cent believe it’s risky to hold a phone for any reason while driving.  

March is Distracted Driving and Occupant Restraint Awareness Month and police across the province will be conducting intensified distracted driving enforcement in your area. 

Distracted driving is anything that distracts your attention while you are driving. It’s more than just looking at your phone. It includes behaviour like applying makeup and personal grooming, eating and drinking, reading anything, pets that are unsecured, and it can include interacting with other passengers. Police urge due care and attention at all times: keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel so you arrive at your destination safely.

The fine for using an electronic device while driving starts at $368 on top of four penalty points for the first offence.  

Chief Superintendent Holly Turton, Officer in Charge of BC Highway Patrol, urges people to make the right choices on the road. Ask yourself if it is worth your life or someone else’s to answer a call, check your email or text while you are driving. Your life and the lives of others depend on the choices you make.

And while seatbelt compliance is quite high in the province, not wearing them kills an average of 51 people a year in the province. The fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $167. Occupant restraints and seat belts must be fastened by all occupants in your vehicle at all times, day or night. 

Children must be secured in approved infant or child seats, appropriate to age and height. Seatbelts and airbags protect and save the lives of you and the occupants in your car. 

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