Government

Last week we looked at how we might define a bad driver. Views were varied, but there were two well thought out responses that did more than just express an opinion. This week, let's look at how bad drivers pay for the risk that they present to others using our highways.

I have lived in the southern interior of BC . for just over 20 years .

I ‘m told that through my work experience , driving of commercial trucks as well as my own personal vehicles , I am considered to be a professional driver. I am currently semi – retired and drive a school bus for a local school district .

I find it interesting that following 2 serious crashes, Neil Menard, the mayor of Merritt, has been taking shots at the maintenance crews that are responsible for the Coquihalla.

Paul Hergott is a personal injury lawyer that practices in Kelowna are regularly writes on road safety. His latest article examines what might happen when the government increases the penalties for distracted driving. The position that he takes is that this could increase the problem by driving everyone to switch to hands free technologies.

Data BC's data catalogue contains 20 datasets for RoadSafetyBC that include a wide variety of data about motor vehicle collisions in our province. It also contains sets for Immediate Roadside Prohibitions (IRP), vehicle impounds and other driving prohibitions.

I want the city to put a stop sign on my street to slow down the traffic going through my neighbourhood. If we don't do something about it, someone is going to get hurt! The trouble is, many things that we think are appropriate are not good solutions to road safety problems.

The new year will bring changes to how drivers are re-examined to insure that they are safe to continue to drive. Current DriveABLE testing will be replaced by an Enhanced Road Assessment (ERA) that will be administered by ICBC at no cost.

B.C. is moving a little closer to having a modern traffic ticketing system. Instead of an officer hand writing a violation ticket, the data will be entered into a computer at the roadside and a printed copy of the eTicket issued to the offending driver. In addition to producing a completely legible document the data can be transmitted to ICBC and the court system, eliminating a significant duplication of effort.

News Item: Ontario introducing $50,000 fines for careless drivers causing death (Globe and Mail, September 20, 2017).

Bill 158, Protecting Vulnerable Road Users Act, 2017 will implement significant consequences for drivers who break the listed rules and cause serious injury or death. The penalties include a mandatory probation order that will require the driver to take a driving instruction course and perform community service. The community service must include activity related to improving driving safety and public education on driving safety. Their driver’s licence will be suspended during the probation.

William Eller represented the Aspen Road Community's interests in this action against the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's (MOTI) proposed changes to the Malahat Highway intersection serving their area. The action was taken because the residents felt that the MOTI failed to incorporate their concerns into the improvement project. An injunction was requested to prevent the changes being made until the safest design for the affected area was determined in full consultation with the residents.