News release

The numbers are in: BC drivers still have lessons to learn after Occupant Restraint and Distracted Driving Month

April 8, 2026 - British Columbia, British Columbia
From: BC Highway Patrol

Content

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 wrote slightly less 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,” says 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:

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 BC roads, along with speed and impairment, and seatbelts are just such an easy way to save lives in collisions,” says Corporal McLaughlin. “As long as they continue to be problems, we will continue to educate through enforcement.”

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