The BC Highway Patrol continued to see Island drivers distracted by cell phones and not wearing seatbelts during an enforcement blitz last month. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

driver safety

‘A really high risk:’ increase in seatbelt tickets locally causing concerns

Apr 8, 2026 | 12:10 PM

NANAIMO — Distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts remains an issue in the province, and Vancouver Island is no exception.

BC Highway Patrol members spent the month of March focusing on drivers not paying attention behind the wheel and ensuring everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained.

Cpl. Michael McLaughlin told NanaimoNewsNOW, 89 seatbelt/restraint tickets were issued on Vancouver Island last month, 28 more compared to March 2025.

“This is one of the easiest ways to make sure that you do survive a collision if you get into one. Seatbelts are designed to work with all of your car’s other safety features like airbags, so if you don’t wear them, there’s a really high risk you or your loved ones could die.”

Province-wide, 775 seatbelt/restraint tickets were issued in March, 46 fewer than last year.

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Cpl. McLaughlin said one of the most common excuses heard for drivers not wearing a seatbelt usually doesn’t jive with their current situation.

“…’I always wear my seatbelt’, and you’ll hear this from somebody who isn’t wearing their seatbelt. We very commonly see people start to drive and then delay putting their seatbelt on, and in some cases just not bother putting it on altogether.”

He said seatbelts work together with your vehicle’s other safety features to keep you alive, and it’s important to get into the habit of buckling up before putting your vehicle in drive, along with ensuring your passengers are also safely strapped in, especially children.

Distracted driving by electronics tickets did see a dip locally, with 241 issues last month on Vancouver Island, down from 276 last year.

Only 16 more people in B.C. were caught using an electronic device while driving last month, compared to March 2025, when 2,722 drivers were ticketed.

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by Jordan Davidson

‘A really high risk:’ increase in seatbelt tickets locally causing concerns

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