News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: