Risky drivers face ICBC hikes as of Thursday

VANCOUVER — Beginning Thursday, risky drivers — those convicted of excessive speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and other violations — will be hit with hefty penalty increases, Attorney General David Eby announced on Tuesday.

ICBC said there will be a 20 per cent increase in the amounts charged for the Driver Risk Premium (DRP), which is charged annually to drivers convicted of dangerous driving offences.

There will also be a 20 per cent hike in the Driver Penalty Point Premium (DPPP), charged to drivers who have collected four or more points from traffic violations.

“Reckless drivers put others at risk, and they’re contributing to the rise in crashes we’re seeing on our roads,” Eby said in a statement. “To help make our roads safer and hold people accountable, we’re bringing in higher penalties for drivers who engage in dangerous behaviour behind the wheel.”

Drivers who fail to pay the Driver Risk Premium or the Driver Penalty Point Premium will not be allowed to renew their drivers’ licence or purchase vehicle insurance through ICBC.

They will also be charged 19.6 per cent in interest after 60 days without payment.

Both premiums are insurance penalties drivers must pay on top of their original violation fines.

According to the Attorney General’s office: • The Driver Penalty Point premium currently ranges from $175 for four points to $24,000 for 50 or more points. With the 20 per cent increase starting Thursday, these penalties will go up to $210 for four points and $28,800 for 50 or more points. • Penalties will increase by 20 per cent again on Nov. 1, 2019, to keep in line with previous increases in basic premiums, Eby said. • Based on the increases, ICBC expects to collect $26 million in penalties in 2019, $32 million in 2020, and $36 million in 2021 (the corporation’s fiscal year extends from April to March).

In January, it was revealed that ICBC was on track to lose $1.3 billion this year because of more crashes and skyrocketing bodily injury claims costs, a state of affairs that Eby has called a “financial dumpster fire.”