September is bringing a renewed focus on two of the simplest things drivers can do to stay alive on B.C. roads: put the phone away and buckle up. B.C. Highway Patrol’s distracted driving and occupant restraint campaign has officers watching for drivers who are looking anywhere but the road and passengers who are not properly secured. Sgt. Michael McLaughlin, a media relations officer with B.C. Highway Patrol, says temptation remains one of the biggest reasons drivers reach for their phones. “Get that phone away from you,” McLaughlin said. “The best thing you can do is start planning your voyages and not having your phone within reach.” For some drivers, that temptation can mean checking a message, changing a song or reaching for a phone while stopped at a red light, but the law does not make an exception for a quick glance. In B.C., using a handheld electronic device while driving can result in a $368 fine. “Once you’ve touched it, it’s a bit of a human habit where you want to touch it more,” McLaughlin said. His advice is simple: set up the phone before leaving, then leave it alone. Drivers who use a phone mount should make sure it is secure and does not block any part of their view through the windshield. McLaughlin recommends positioning it lower on the dashboard rather than directly in the driver’s line of sight. The danger is not just the time spent looking down. It is what can happen on the road during those seconds. “You’re going at highway speed, and you take your eyes off the road for a second,” McLaughlin said. “You’ve covered a lot of ground.” “If somebody has activated their brakes, or wildlife has come into traffic, or somebody has made an unexpected move or lane change, you can’t react,” he said. That loss of awareness is something officers say they encounter during everyday enforcement. “We walk right up to vehicles wearing our bright yellow jackets, and people don’t even know we’re there because they’re on their phones,” he said. That visibility will continue throughout September. “We’re going to pop up when you don’t expect it,” McLaughlin said. Drivers can expect roadside enforcement and check stops, with officers watching for cellphones as well as passengers who are not properly restrained. The campaign maintains a focus on seatbelts as well. “It is so tragic to go to a collision scene that could have been something relatively minor, where people could have walked away. And instead, it’s a fatality,” he said. Modern vehicle safety systems are designed around occupants being properly restrained. McLaughlin says airbags are not a substitute for a seatbelt, and being thrown from a vehicle can have deadly consequences. The same applies to children. McLaughlin says choosing the right car seat or booster can be confusing because the appropriate restraint depends on a child’s age, size and weight. He encourages parents and caregivers who are unsure to seek help rather than guess. There are financial penalties for several violations. Failing to wear a seatbelt can result in a $167 fine. Driving with an inoperative seatbelt carries the same penalty. Failing to properly restrain a child or using an infant restraint that is inappropriate for the child’s height or weight, can result in a $109 fine. But McLaughlin says the purpose of enforcement is ultimately about changing behaviour before a mistake becomes irreversible. “It’s way better than going through your windscreen because you weren’t wearing a seatbelt,” he said. “We take it so casually now, but it is a serious thing.” McLaughlin said drivers also need to remember they are sharing the road with people who can make unpredictable decisions. “Remember that you’re driving with everybody else, and you have to factor in their mistakes and their behavior,” he said. Distracted driving remains one of the top three causes of death on B.C. roads, alongside speeding and impairment.
