BC Highway Patrol launches distracted driving and seatbelt campaign

The BC Highway Patrol has launched the Distracted Drivers and Occupant Restraint Campaign throughout September to increase road safety across British Columbia. The initiative focuses on reducing distracted driving and improving seatbelt compliance, noting that distracted driving remains one of the top three causes of road fatalities in the province, alongside speeding and impairment.

Superintendent Lori Orstad stated that the campaign aims to “educate through enforcement” because drivers often create their own exceptions to safety laws. Under the BC Motor Vehicle Act, penalties for violations include a $368 fine for using an electronic device while driving and a $167 fine for failing to wear a seatbelt or operating a vehicle with an inoperative one. Additional fines of $109 apply for improper child or infant restraint systems.