BC Highway Patrol urges drivers to buckle up and lock in during March

Feb 28, 2025 | 4:46 PM

SURREY — B.C. police are asking drivers to wear their seatbelts and focus on the road as distracted driving becomes as deadly, if not deadlier, than impaired driving over the past few years.

Throughout March, BC Highway Patrol will be “educating by enforcing” rules about distracted driving and occupant restraint, or failing to wear your seat belt.

“Distracted driving, along with speeding and impaired driving, is consistently one of the top three contributors to fatal crashes in BC,” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “We often hear drivers ask for a warning. Distracted driving is so risky that your warning will be a violation ticket. The real consequences would be to get hurt or worse.”

ICBC data shows the number of distracted driving-related deaths has climbed from 18 to 29 between 2018 and 2023 in the Lower Mainland alone. B.C.-wide– the number has risen to nearly 80. By comparison, impaired driving has killed an average of 62 people each year.

Distraction from electronics is a relatively recent development, but police say a surprising amount of people still drive unbuckled despite seatbelt laws being passed since 1977.

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“The evidence is clear: If you do not wear your seatbelt, a totally survivable collision will often become fatal, says Corporal McLaughlin, “and while securing your child with a car seat requires a little planning, your child’s life is worth it.”

Roughly 53 people die from improper seatbelt use in B.C. each year.

The Motor Vehicle Act states that a seatbelt must be placed with the shoulder belt across a person’s chest and the lap belt across their pelvic bones. Children under nine years old must be secured in car seats or booster seats, depending on their age and size.

More information on crashes and vehicle safety are available on the ICBC website.

by Alyssa Conti

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BC Highway Patrol urges drivers to buckle up and lock in during March

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