Distracted drivers are being forewarned of a coordinated, province-wide campaign during the month of march. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

leave phone alone

Province-wide distracted driving/buckle-up campaign returns  

Feb 26, 2026 | 7:23 AM

NANAIMO — Police won’t shy away from writing tickets during the month of March. 

Led by BC Highway Patrol in conjunction with RCMP and municipal police forces across the province, March will see enhanced efforts to clamp down on distracted drivers and those improperly restrained. 

Cpl. Michael McLaughlin told NanaimoNewsNOW throughout the month, “we are going to be writing a lot of tickets” to reinforce key safety messaging.

“We still see it way too much on Vancouver Island. Distracted driving in particular is one of the three things most likely to kill you on B.C. roads,” McLaughlin said.

Monetary fine schedule for distracted and improperly restrained drivers in B.C. In addition, distracted driving tickets include four penalty points. (Image Credit: BC RCMP)

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Last March, on Vancouver Island, around 300 distracted drivers and about 50 motorists and passengers were ticketed for not being properly restrained.  

Cpl. McLaughlin said police continue seeing a trend of disproportionately higher numbers of motorists and passengers not wearing seatbelts in rural areas of the province.

He said officers will deploy a range of enforcement tactics, including being positioned at intersections and perhaps monitoring vehicles from higher vantage points.  

“We could be anywhere,” he said. “This is a real focus for us, we’re passionate about getting people to be more focused on the road, passionate about people wearing their seatbelt. This is an easy way to save your life in a collision.” 

According to ICBC, an average of 80 British Columbians, including nine people on Vancouver Island, die annually in motor vehicle crashes due to distracted driving being a contributing factor. 

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