New penalties are now in place for the province’s drivers who are caught distracted while behind the wheel.
In a press release from the Ministry of Justice, the provincial government advised drivers put their hand-held electronic devices away. A penalty already in place for drivers caught texting or emailing has been extended to include talking.
“Anyone caught talking on a hand-held electronic device while driving is subject to three penalty points in addition to a $167 fine,” said the ministry
The operation of a hand-held audio player, programming a GPS, holding or dialing using a cellular phone are all covered in the newly extended penalty.
The legislation also prohibits drivers in the graduated licencing program from using any hands-free device.
As road conditions deteriorate due to fall weather, distraction is more likely to be a contributing factor of vehicle collisions involving pedestrians. With daylight getting shorter, it is harder to see pedestrians in the dark or during poor weather conditions.
“Distracted driving is the second leading contributing factor of vehicle fatalities in B.C.,” states the release. “Penalty points remain on a person’s driving record for five years and can result in further sanctions, including prohibitions from driving.”
There are other implications for drivers who are distracted. In a list of key points, the province notes that drivers who accrue more than three points must pay an Insurance Corporation of BC driver penalty point premium that starts at $175 and will escalate if more points are received.
