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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VICTORIA – The government is launching a consultation on proposed new rules to strengthen driver safety, Solicitor General Rich Coleman announced today.
“The public, police, parents and communities have clearly told us they support stronger measures for young drivers,” said Coleman. “Last year, we introduced the toughest measures in Canada to deal with street racing. Today we’re doing more to follow up on our New Era commitment to improving public safety. With summer fast approaching, it’s appropriate that we engage the public in a discussion of how to make our streets safer.”
Since the Graduated Licensing Program was introduced in 1998, the new-driver crash rate has been reduced by almost 26 per cent. However, young drivers still account for almost double their share of accidents involving fatality or injury, compared to the overall driving population. In 2001, young drivers made up nine per cent of the province’s driving population, yet represented almost 16 per cent of all crashes involving fatality or injury.
The changes under consideration include: · Increasing the learner stage from six months to one year and raising the minimum age for a driver supervisor to 25 from 19. · Increasing the novice stage from 18 months to a minimum of two years, with a provision that the novice driver be prohibition-free for 24 consecutive months. This means that novice drivers receiving prohibitions lose their accumulated driving experience time and must start the 24-month novice stage over again. · Restricting novice drivers to carrying one passenger unless accompanied by a supervisor aged 25 or over, or unless the passengers are members of the driver’s immediate family.
“Research clearly shows that the risk of fatality dramatically increases for young drivers with more passengers in the car,” Coleman said. “The risk increases about 45 per cent with one passenger, 100 per cent with two and almost 200 per cent with three or more. These changes would result in 15,000 fewer accidents, including 3,500 fewer crashes involving injuries and 20 fewer fatalities in the 16- to 25-year-old age group over the next three years. That means an 18 per cent reduction in accidents involving injury or fatality over that time period.”
The proposals will be posted at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/legislation until June 30.
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