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B.C. drivers still have lessons to learn: BCHP
It may seem like distracted driving is worse than ever, but this year’s Occupant Restraint and Distracted Driving campaigns suggest that drivers in March 2026 have not gotten much better or worse compared to March 2025.
Overall, BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) wrote slightly fewer tickets for people failing to wear seatbelts or using their electronic devices while driving in March 2026.
“When you consider staffing changes, different enforcement techniques, weather, and other factors, these numbers are essentially flat,” said Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “Having said that, you can look around and see that too many people are still using their phones while driving. And why some people can’t bring themselves to use their seatbelt remains a mystery.”
Here are the Distracted Driving/Occupant Restraint campaign numbers:
| 2026 | ||
| Region (2026) | Seatbelt/Restraint Tickets | Electronic Device Tickets |
| Northern BC (including most communities north of 100 Mile House) | 148 | 100 |
| Central BC (including Merritt, Kelowna, Kamloops, Clearwater) | 268 | 1,008 |
| Kootenay region (including Revelstoke, Nelson, Cranbrook, Golden) | 57 | 142 |
| Vancouver Island | 89 | 241 |
| South Coast (including Metro Vancouver, Sea to Sky country, the Fraser Valley) | 138 (22 children) | 822 |
| Special Traffic Operations (throughout BC) | 75 | 409 |
| Totals | 775 | 2,722 |
| 2025 | ||
| Region (2025) | Seatbelt/Restraint Tickets | Electronic Device Tickets |
| Northern BC (including most communities north of 100 Mile House) | 111 | 153 |
| Central BC (including Merritt, Kelowna, Kamloops, Clearwater) | 300 | 1,036 |
| Kootenay region (including Revelstoke, Nelson, Cranbrook, Golden) | 47 | 149 |
| Vancouver Island | 61 | 276 |
| South Coast (including Metro Vancouver, Sea to Sky country, the Fraser Valley) | 145 (28 children) | 603 |
| Special Traffic Operations (throughout BC) | 157 (23 children) | 521 |
| Totals | 821 | 2,738 |
The Metro Vancouver (South Coast) region continues to have the most drivers who fail to properly secure their children in car/booster seats (22 tickets). Seatbelt use among adults in Northern BC continues to worsen (up to 148 tickets from 111 last year), while the Central region saw a noticeable improvement in seatbelt use (268 tickets this year versus 300 in 2025).
Metro Vancouver drivers saw the worst increase in distracted drivers (up to 822 tickets from 603 last year) while Northern BC saw the biggest improvement in distracted driving (down to 100 tickets from 153 last year).
“Distracted driving is still one of the top three things that can kill you on B.C. roads, along with speed and impairment, and seatbelts are just such an easy way to save lives in collisions,” said Cpl. McLaughlin. “As long as they continue to be problems, we will continue to educate through enforcement.”
e-KNOW file photo
BC Highway Patrol
