The numbers are in: BC drivers still have lessons to learn after Occupant Restraint and Distracted Driving Month
By BC RCMP
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.”
In the Kootenay Region, 2026 saw 57 seatbelt /restraint tickets issued versus 47 in 2025, and 142 electronic de4vice tickets in 2026 versus 149 in 2025.
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