Quality B.C. driver education could cut down crashes: expert

There aren’t many B.C. driving schools that teach the Graduated Licencing Program (GLP), and that may be one of the factors that’s costing ICBC, said one expert.

“A lot of problems can be solved with decent driver education, and ICBC has never embraced the driving education as a tool to reduce crashes,” said Steve Wallace, Western Canadian vice-president of the Driving Schools Association.

Coverage of ICBC on Globalnews.ca:

1:53 ‘Scrubbed’ ICBC documents revealed

• ‘Scrubbed’ ICBC documents revealed
• B.C. to cap ICBC pain and suffering payouts
• Highlights from David Eby announcement to make ICBC financially viable
• B.C. government announces reforms to fix ICBC
• Body shops strike back at ICBC over deficit

Previous Video

Next Video

Wallace said that, out of 647 driving schools in the province, only 56 of them offer the GLP.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“What are the others doing?” he asked.

“There are just too many schools out there that are car rental facilities for the road test, where they concentrate on the road test, road test, road test.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There are just too many schools out there that are car rental facilities for the road test, where they concentrate on the road test, road test, road test."

Wallace said ICBC should provide a greater incentive to ensure the course is taught.

READ MORE: Leaked ICBC report triggers probe by chief information officer

The good news though, according to Wallace, is that B.C.’s road test is among the toughest in the world.

“Our tests, when people look at it in the driving school industry…  they look at our test and say, ‘wow,'” he said.