Police recorded 149 distracted driving enforcement actions across the region last month, up from 116 during the same period in 2025 — an increase of approximately 28 per cent.
The Kootenay region, which includes Nelson, Cranbrook, Revelstoke and Golden, also saw a 43 per cent increase in seat belt and other occupant restraint enforcement, climbing from 58 actions last year to 83 in 2026.
The regional figures reflect a provincewide increase in enforcement, with BC Highway Patrol recording 1,587 distracted driving actions in September, more than double the 734 reported a year earlier.
Occupant restraint enforcement also climbed across B.C., increasing from 456 to 826 actions.
BC Highway Patrol Supt. Lori Orstad said the numbers highlight the importance of making safer decisions behind the wheel.
“It’s easy to blame the driver next to you for their bad and unsafe decisions, but maybe it’s time to start looking in the mirror,” Orstad said. “The numbers are way too high. We should be making better decisions behind the wheel or even as passengers.”
Police said staffing levels, favourable weather and fewer serious fatal collisions under investigation may have contributed to the increased enforcement activity. However, BC Highway Patrol suggested driver behaviour was likely a significant factor.
“There’s never a better time than right now to build better habits,” Orstad said. “Don’t start your car until you and every passenger are belted in. And put your phone out of reach before you hit the ignition. You can live without texting or using a GPS to get home from work.”
Drivers caught using an electronic device while driving face a $368 fine, while failing to wear a seat belt carries a $167 fine.
BC Highway Patrol said the enforcement figures include both tickets and warnings, with warnings accounting for approximately three per cent of the total.
