Speed
Tips to stay safe
· Behind other vehicles, allow at least two seconds' following distance in good weather and road conditions (three seconds on a highway).
· Slow down on wet roads, in bad weather conditions or on uneven roads. Increase your following distance to at least four seconds.
· Don’t speed up as someone is trying to pass you—it’s illegal.
· Be realistic about your travel time.
· If you’re running late, accept the delay. Better late than never.
The faster you go, the longer it takes to stop
· At 30 km/h, it takes 18 metres to come to a full stop.
· At 80, it takes 76 metres.
· And at 110, it takes 126 metres.
The faster you go, the more you pay
Driver risk premium
If you have one or more excessive speeding tickets, you pay a driver risk premium (DRP). It’s based on convictions over a three-year period, and includes any offences that occur on or after Jan. 1, 2008.
And you’ll pay the DRP on top of your cost of insurance.
Fines
If you’re caught speeding up to 20 km/h over the limit in your community or on a highway, the fine is $138. If you’re caught doing more than 60 km/h, the fine is $483. In a school, playground or construction zone, if you’re caught going up to 20 km/h over the speed limit, the fine is $196. And if you’re caught going more than 60 km/h, you’ll pay $483.
Vehicle impoundment
Besides the violation ticket fine and driver risk premium, police can immediately impound your vehicle for seven days for those travelling 40 km or more over the posted speed limit. This could escalate to 30 or 60 days for repeat offenders.
The owner is then required to pay the vehicle towing and storage fees to get their vehicle back.
Driver Penalty Points premium chart
The Driver Penalty Point premium you need to pay depends on the total number of points you accumulate in a 12-month period. These points stay on your driving record for five years, but you only pay the premium once.
Important: Some offences or convictions, such as excessive speeding, may apply to both the Driver Penalty Point program and the Driver Risk Program. You will be billed once per year under the program that results in the higher premium.
Number of Penalty Points / Annual Driver Penalty Point premium $ / Number of Penalty Points / Annual Driver Penalty Point premium $ / Number of Penalty Points / Annual Driver Penalty Point premium $0-3 / Nil / 19 / 3,440 / 35 / 11,120
4 / 175 / 20 / 3,760 / 36 / 11,760
5 / 230 / 21 / 4,160 / 37 / 12,400
6 / 300 / 22 / 4, 560 / 38 / 13,040
7 / 415 / 23 / 4, 960 / 39 / 13,680
8 / 520 / 24 / 5,360 / 40 / 14,560
9 / 640 / 25 / 5,760 / 41 / 15,360
10 / 905 / 26 / 6,240 / 42 / 16,160
11 / 1,080 / 27 / 6,720 / 43 / 16,960
12 / 1,260 / 28 / 7,200 / 44 / 17,760
13 / 1,680 / 29 / 7,680 / 45 / 18,560
14 / 1,920 / 30 / 8,160 / 46 / 19,520
15 / 2,160 / 31 / 8,720 / 47 / 20,480
16 / 2,480 / 32 / 9,280 / 48 / 21,440
17 / 2,800 / 33 / 9,840 / 49 / 22,400
18 / 3,120 / 34 / 10,480 / 50 or more / 24,000
Cellphones
Driving demands your full attention
As of January 1, 2010,drivers in B.C. can no longer use hand-held cellphones and other hand-held portable electronic devices. Meanwhile, new drivers in GLP can't use cellphones or other portable electronic devices (including hands-free) while driving.
Many people also don't realize that it's also illegal to talk, type, text or dial on a hand-held cellphone or any hand-held portable electronic device while waiting in traffic or stopped for a red light.
If you get a call, let voice mail do its job or pull over. You lose 50 per cent of what's going on around you when you talk on your cellphone or text. Driving demands your full attention.
Txt ur frnd l8tr
Texting and driving could change your life—by taking someone else's.
Impaired driving
Attitudes toward drinking and driving are changing. Most people agree that drunk driving is not okay. But many people think they're okay to drive after a few drinks.
The fact is, it doesn't take much alcohol to impair your driving. Just because you've only had a couple of drinks doesn't mean you're okay to drive.
B.C.'s drinking-driving laws are now tougher
In the first year sinceB.C.'s tougher drinking-driving penalties took effect (in September 2010), alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths have beenreduced by 40 per cent.
Police in B.C. can issue an immediate roadside prohibition to an impaired driver with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .05 or higher. (The BAC is based on a breath sample into a roadside screening device.)
The vehicle the person is driving can also be immediately taken off the road and impounded for three to 30 days.
Costs related to these offences can add up to an estimated $600 to $4,060—even if it’s the first time a driver is caught.
Possible criminal charges
Failing or refusing a breathalyzer test could also result in criminal charges.
If convicted, you would
· be prohibited from driving for at least a year and
· pay way more for car insurance.
If you drove while prohibited or suspended, your car could be impounded for a minimum of 60 days. You would also be subject to a $500 fine, jail time and more driving prohibitions.
Don't gamble with your car insurance
If you drive over the legal alcohol limit or under the influence of drugs, ICBC may not cover you under your Basic Autoplan.
If you crash while drinking and driving, you’re likely in breach of your insurance policy. That means you could be personally responsible for 100 per cent of the costs if you damage someone else’s property or injure them.
Learn more »
CounterAttack impaired driving
Each year, we support enhanced police enforcement to shut down impaired driving through CounterAttack awareness campaigns in July and December.
Ignition interlock program
B.C. drivers with a record of drinking and driving must now have an ignition interlock device installed in every vehicle they drive. The device requires that they provide a breath sample, and it will prevent them from starting the vehicle if they have been drinking.
Learn more about the Ignition Interlock Program(PDF).
Ignition interlock devices can also be used voluntarily. If you are thinking about having an ignition interlock installed, please visit www.acs-corp.com for more information. Thank you for making a responsible decision to drive smart.
Designated drivers are local heroes
Summary: A designated driver is the person who chooses not to drink so that they can drive others home safely.
Our focus group testing has revealed that the least drunk person often becomes the designated driver, by default. In response, we’re raising the profile of designated drivers to remind people: A designated driver is the person who decides not to drink so that they can drive others home safely. The only time to decide how to get home safely is before you start drinking. Otherwise, it’s too late.
ICBC is reminding everyone, before the first round, to make a smart choice and designate a driver.
You can promote safe driving habits and help influence others by encouraging people to make smart choices. Before you head out to celebrate or relax with friends, plan your ride home and keep our roads safe.
Easy-to-make mocktails
Summary: Here are a variety of recipes for easy-to-make mocktails. Most ingredients are probably already in your fridge. If not, a quick trip to your local grocery store will solve the problem. Measures are approximate.
Hot Apple Cider - with spicy cinnamon
Apple juice / 1 litre (4 cups)Whole cloves / 10
Whole allspice / 10
Ground nutmeg / Dash
Salt / Pinch
Cinnamon / 2 sticks
Supplies: Large saucepan, mugs. Mixing: Pour juice into saucepan. Add spices. Cover and heat on low until almost boiling. Serve in mugs. (Serves 6)
Kootenay Koffee - smooth and creamy
Brown sugar / 80 ml (1/3 cup)
Cinnamon, nutmeg / Pinch of each
Allspice, cloves / Pinch of each
Strong freshly brewed coffee / 1.4 litres (5.5 cups)
Milk / 200 ml (3/4 cup)
Orange or lemon twists
Supplies: Large saucepan, mugs, electric beaters (optional). Mixing: In saucepan, beat butter and sugar into a creamy consistency. Blend in spices. Add hot coffee and stir until sugar melts. Stir in milk and heat just to boiling. Pour into heated mugs and garnish with orange or lemon twists. (Serves 6)
Tropical Heat - with spicy cinnamon
Cranberry juice / 1 litre (4 cups)Pineapple juice / 1 litre (4 cups)
Water / 250 ml (1 cup)
Salt / Pinch
Cinnamon / 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp)
Ground cloves / 3 ml (3/4 tsp)
Nutmeg / 1.25 ml (1/4 tsp)
Allspice / 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp)
Cinnamon sticks / 10
Supplies: Large saucepan, mugs. Mixing: Combine spices and water in the saucepan. Stir and bring to a boil. Add fruit juices and reheat just to boiling point. Serve piping hot with a cinnamon stick stirrer in each cup. (Serves 10)
Lemon Fizz - tart and tingling
Apple juice / 1 litre (4 cups)Lemon juice / 60 ml (1/4 cup)
Soda / 875 ml (3.5 cups)
Lemon peel / 8 strips
Supplies: Two litre (8 cups) pitcher or bowl. Mixing: In the pitcher, combine apple and lemon juice. If serving drinks at once, add soda. If serving individually, half fill glasses (4 oz) with soda and top with apple-lemon mixture. Garnish with a lemon strip. (Serves 8)
Spritz to be Tied - sunshine with a bite
Peach nectar / 1 litre (4 cups)Grapefruit juice / 1 litre (4 cups)
Carbonated water / 1 litre (4 cups)
Ice cubes
Supplies: Large 4 litre (16 cups) mixing container, pitcher (optional). Mixing: Combine all the ingredients and mix. Scoop into a pitcher, then pour into ice filled glasses. (Serves 12 to 15)
Southern Sunrise
Cranberry juice / 1.14 litre (4.5 cups)Orange juice / 1 litre (4 cups)
Almond extract / 5-10 ml (1-2 tsp)
For tart drink: soda / 2 litres (8 cups)
For sweeter drink: ginger ale / 2 litres (8 cups)
Supplies: One 8 litre (2 gal.) container for mixing. Punch bowl and cups, or highball glasses. Mixing: Chill all the ingredients for at least 3 hours. Combine the juices in your mixing container and all almond extract to taste. Cover. Refrigerate. Add soda or ginger ale just before serving. (Serves 20)
Operation Red Nose
Operation Red Nose
Operation Red Nose is a free volunteer driving service during the holiday season in B.C.
Named in honour of the most-famous reindeer of all (Rudolph), Operation Red Nose provides free rides to drivers and their passengers who, after going to a party, are impaired or too tired to drive home on their own. Donations are gratefully accepted and help fund local youth sports, and other not-for-profit organizations.
2011 results
Thanks to all the volunteers across B.C. who made for a very successful 2011 Operation Red Nose program. In total 4,241 volunteers drove more than 180,000 kms to provide 7,696 safe rides home for party-goers and their vehicles. While helping to keep B.C. roads safe over the holiday season, ORN volunteers also raised more than $170,000 in support of non-profit youth or amateur sports organziations in the host communities across the province.
Communities with Operation Red Nose
Over the 16 years that ICBC has supported Operation Red Nose in our province, it has grown from just two communities to 12 and provided more than 57,000 safe rides home!
From November 25 to December 31, 2011, the service was available in these B.C. communities:
· Abbotsford/Mission
· Chilliwack
· Comox
· Delta/Richmond
· Kamloops
· Langley/Surrey
· Nanaimo
· North Shore
· Prince George
· Ridge Meadows
· Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and surrounding communities)
· Williams Lake
For the 2012 holiday season, Operation Red Nose would like to add one more B.C. community. Interested non-profit youth or amateur sports organziations looking for new ways to raise funds are encouraged to visit the Operation Red Nose websitefor more information.
How it works
All you have to do is call 1-877-604-NOSE and a team of three ORN volunteers will help you get home safely. One volunteer drives the client’s vehicle, a second volunteer navigates, and a third follows in an escort vehicle to pick up the two volunteers once they drop off the client.
Become a volunteer
The success of Operation Red Nose is wholly dependent on the people who volunteer for the program. It's a great way to give back to your community while helping to keep our roads safe over the holidays.
For more information on becoming an ORN volunteer, visit the operation red nose website.