DriveSmartBC

British Columbia will have Canada's toughest impaired driving penalties when new laws become effective on September 20, 2010. The limits of zero for new drivers, 50 mg% (.05) for a 24 hour suspension and 80 mg% (.08) for criminal impaired driving charge have not changed, rather the penalties for those who disregard them have become much harsher.

Transport Canada announced that the Government of Canada will be undertaking a review of the safety standards for 15 passenger vans. These vehicles are typically used for extracurricular school activities and have been involved in serious collisions often attributed to rollover stability.

B.C.'s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) has implemented a program aimed at removing commercial vehicles with serious equipment defects from our highways. The program applies to commercial vehicles with a GVW over 5,000 kg that are part of the National Safety Code Program.

Line-marking crews have begun the annual task of refreshing markings on highways across British Columbia to help provide a safer drive for motorists.

Canada's testing standards for child safety seats will be second to none when they are implemented on January 1, 2011. Children today are heavier and require that safety standards keep pace in order to take this into account and provide sufficient protection.

With today's announcement of tougher penalties for drivers who choose to drink and drive on the highways of British Columbia we are moving ever closer to the point of no driving after drinking. Having a couple of drinks and then driving will attract significant financial penalties, longer prohibitions and longer vehicle impounds.

The provincial government will be introducing new legislation to make it easier to take punitive action against Designated Inspection Facilities that do not perform proper vehicle safety inspections or certify unsafe vehicles.

The province of BC saw 286 motorcycle-related deaths on our highways between 2000 and 2007. As a result, the BC Coroner's Service convened a Death Review Panel to examine the increasing frequency of serious collisions. The panel has also made recommendations to prevent loss of life in similar circumstances.

VICTORIA – Sixty fewer lives were lost and 4,196 fewer injuries resulted from motor vehicle crashes in 2008 compared to 2007, due to a concerted effort by a 110-member integrated traffic safety unit that works alongside local traffic police to make British Columbia roads safer.

The bill to add section 214.1, Use of Electronic Devices while Driving (including cellular telephones and similar devices), to the Motor Vehicle Act has received final reading and will be implemented on January 1, 2010. For more information on the bill as passed, see the links below: