Police in B.C. to crack down on distracted drivers next month

Police in Vancouver and across B.C. say they will be paying extra attention to drivers who aren’t paying attention to the road.

Throughout the month of March, police will be cracking down on drivers using their cell phones as part of a joint campaign with ICBC that highlights the perils of distracted driving.

ICBC says drivers who talk, text, or email behind the wheel cause an average of 88 vehicle fatalities annually.

“Distracted driving is a growing concern and causes most rear-end crashes in B.C. that result in injuries,” said Lindsay Matthews, ICBC’s director responsible for road safety. “Some drivers still aren’t getting the message – every call, text or tweet can wait.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Distracted driving is a growing concern and causes most rear-end crashes in B.C. that result in injuries," said Lindsay Matthews, ICBC's director responsible for road safety. "Some drivers still aren't getting the message - every call, text or tweet can wait."

The B.C. government implemented stricter penalties for distracted driving last October, adding an additional three demerit points to a $167 fine.

The B.C. campaign follows similar efforts in other parts of Canada. In Ontario, Toronto Police used a hearse and ’emotional messaging’ during a recent anti-distracted driving campaign. Nova Scotia implemented stiffer distracted driving penalties earlier this year while some Alberta politicians are campaigning for tougher laws in their province.