British Columbians are very concerned about the threat posed by distracted driving according to those leaving feedback on the government web site created to solicit public input on the subject.
Our province has the second lowest penalties for those caught handling a cellular phone when they should be paying attention to the road. Should those penalties be higher and if so, how much higher?
Setting penalties is a delicate balance I’m sure. Set them too high and the police won’t apply them, the courts are taxed and the justices will not convict. Set them too low and it becomes just the cost of doing business.
I can hear the comment "it’s nothing but a cash grab" echoing in the background right now. Your input may make the level selected "just right."
I would lean toward something like the old 24 hour prohibition. Get caught and lose your driving privileges for a day. Accumulate too many and RoadSafetyBC can step in and take a driver’s licence away for a longer period. Sadly, some drivers will continue driving anyway, but more severe sanctions await them if they do.
You now have about two weeks left to take part in the survey which closes on July 16. You can Tweet using the hash tag #distractedBC, e-mail your thoughts to citizenengagement@gov.bc.ca or Join the Discussion at engage.gov. bc.ca.
You are also welcome to leave your comments with this article on the DriveSmartBC web site.
Tim Schewe is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. To comment or learn more, please visit drivesmartbc. ca.
