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By Liam Verster
Unsafe Driving Violations

Distracted driving, seatbelt tickets down slightly annually for the region

Apr 9, 2026 | 1:38 PM

The area that includes the Okanagan has seen a slight decline in unsafe and distracted driving violations.

B.C. Highway Patrol said officers issued 1,008 tickets for using an electronic device while driving in the Central B.C. region in March of 2026. That area includes Vernon and Kelowna.

Comparatively, the same area saw 1,036 tickets for the same violation issued in March of 2025.

Highway Patrol also said tickets for improper use of seatbelts and restraints declined in Central B.C. from 300 in March of 2025 to 268 in the same month this year.

The province as a whole saw similar slight declines. This past March, Highway Patrol issued a total of 2,722 electronic device tickets and 775 seatbelt tickets. Comparatively, officers issued 2,738 device tickets and 821 seatbelt tickets in the same month the year before.

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Though the figures were down somewhat, Highway Patrol said these violations were still occurring and that drivers and passengers should take safety seriously.

“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 Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol.

“As long as they continue to be problems, we will continue to educate through enforcement.”

by Liam Verster
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