B.C. government receives more than 10,000 submissions and comments on distracted driving

British Columbia’s Ministry of Justice reported on Friday that it had received more than 10,000 submissions and comments during its recently concluded month-long consultation on distracted driving.

During the four-week consultation, which closed on July 16, the government’s dedicated website received more than 24,000 visits, and “powerful, often personal stories shared in 962 email submissions – supplemented by 1,932 online comments.” For example, a veteran long-haul trucker’s account of his bird’s-eye view of other drivers – nearly all of whom appear to be talking or texting on handheld devices, on some days. In another, one young couple – in addition to enduring severe physical and psychological trauma – lost their unborn child after a distracted driver veered into their path. Yet another was a call for heftier fines from a couple who lost a son when a distracted driver cut him off.

The ministry said in a release that the site’s “Add Your Voice” page, which asked contributors to answer nine specific questions, drew more than 69,000 responses from 9,400 individual contributors. Notable response totals for specific questions:

• Nearly 90% of 9,106 respondents indicated they are very concerned about distracted driving in B.C.;
• 90% of 7,536 respondents indicated the fine for distracted driving should be increased (B.C.’s current distracted driving penalties – $167 and three penalty points – are the second-lowest in the country); and
• 96% of 7,493 respondents said drivers who’ve received multiple tickets for distracted driving should face greater sanctions.

Related: B.C. considers raising penalties for distracted driving

“British Columbians have clear and passionate views about all forms of distracted driving,” Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton said in the release. “Our government will carefully review their feedback and champion new, tougher approaches against distracted driving that are effective, defensible and fair. Over the past five years, police across B.C. have provided strong enforcement of our existing distracted driving laws, and we absolutely want to support their continued vigilance with any new measures we introduce.”

RoadSafetyBC expects to complete its analysis of the consultation submissions and data, plus further review of contemporary approaches in other jurisdictions, and be able to provide options for government’s consideration this fall. The province anticipates finalizing new measures by spring 2016, and potentially earlier depending on the outcome of the analysis, the release added.