B.C.’s attorney general is considering stiffer fines and penalties for distracted driving, which is now responsible for more fatal accidents than drunkenness in the province.
Suzanne Anton revealed Wednesday there were 81 distracted driving deaths in 2012, compared to 55 caused by impaired driving.
“That’s 81 families who have terrible tragedy in their lives,” Anton said. “People seem to know that they must not drink and drive, the distracted driving people don’t seem to have the same level of awareness.”
The attorney general said she would look at increasing the current $167 fine, which costs less than a fare evasion ticket on TransLink, and adding demerit points to drivers caught talking on their mobile devices while driving.
Points are currently only applied to drivers who text or email behind the wheel.
Premier Christy Clark voiced her support for Anton’s initiative Wednesday outside the legislature.
“I think it’s worthy of a good, hard look because if that’s the reason many, many people are losing their lives, we have a responsibility to address it,” Clark said.
B.C. Chiefs of Police Association already recommended stiffer penalties in 2013, including increased fines even cell phone seizures for repeat offenders.
Officers in the province handed out 51,000 tickets for distracted driving that year, Anton said.
The government wouldn’t speculate on what increased penalties would look like, but said they could be the key to curbing risky driving habits.
Anton said public awareness is another important factor, noting that even she had driven distracted before she knew about the dangers.
“In the past I have but I can tell you I don’t anymore because I’m very aware of it,” she said.
Ontario has already implemented a system of increasing penalties to tackle the problem, with fines starting at $280 and climbing to $1,000 for those who continue flouting the law.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s St. John Alexander
