Cell phone driving ban making a difference

It’s been three years since the law was passed banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving in B.C.

But the question remains: is it making any difference? Preventing serious accidents? Saving lives?

The number of tickets handed out is certainly skyrocketing, but even the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles isn’t sure about the overall impact so far.

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“I think we’ve got a good sense that the laws are working. Overall provincial stats show a downward trend with all aspects of distracted driving,” says Steve Martin, Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.

Martin say more still needs to be done.

“Enforcement sanctions are up, and injuries and fatalities are down,” he says.

“Very much like seatbelts laws take time to have an impact, many people will change their behaviours; others need to be sanctioned; and for others, we will have to pry their cell phones from their cold dead hands.”

Crashes related to distracted driving, including cell use, are declining gradually according to stats from ICBC.

Casualty crashes including injuries involving distraction like cell and texting are down too.