BC NDP suggests fines up to $1,000 to tackle distracted driving

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Earlier this week, the province announced changes to penalties for distracted drivers, but the opposition doesn’t think it’ll work.

NDP Justice Critic Mike Farnworth feels we should look to Ontario, where laws are much tougher and fines can run as high as $1,000.

“We could do something like that here in British Columbia for repeat offenders — people who don’t get the message. Increase the fines from, let’s say, $167 to $250 or $300. That would have an impact,” he says.

“That’s how you make an impact on people’s behaviour. Hit them in the wallet, along with the demerits, which then show up at insurance renewal time. This is a real problem — not just in British Columbia but all over North America.”

Farnworth believes the province needs to come down harder on bad drivers. He admits doing distracted driving campaigns simply isn’t good enough.

“I think we need to look at ways in which we can get the message home to people and I think one of the most effective ways is hit in the pocketbook with an increased fine. The $167 isn’t high enough. People need to understand it’s not the cost of doing business. We need to have an aggressive campaign in the same way that we’ve had aggressive campaigns around the issue of drinking and driving.”

The justice minister, who was not made available to speak with us today, has said a fine of $1,000 is too high and it won’t be implemented in BC. Instead, Suzanne Anton is reviewing the Motor Vehicle Act.

Effective October 20th, the new regulations will increase the driver penalty points from zero to three for those caught talking on a phone. The new penalty also covers things like watching a DVD, programming a cell phone’s GPS, and operating hand-held music players.

Distracted driving is said to be the second-leading cause of deaths on BC roads.