Distracted driving not high enough on B.C. agenda, complain critics

Critics say upcoming changes to B.C.'s distracted driving laws are too weak and taking too long,given the obvious risks.

NDP MLA Mike Farnworthsaid the road is already paved for the legislation.

Make B.C. roads safest by 2020

"It's not like it is rocket science to figure out what sort of changes are needed for distracted driving," he said.

Changes are expected in the coming months, and BC's Justice Minister Suzanne Anton hassaidthe goal is to make B.C.'s roads the safest in North America by 2020.

• Police stepping up distracted driving enforcement

• Distracted driving penalties to be reviewed in B.C.

The government began consultations about how to handle drivers caught with hand-held devices in June 2015.

"The reality is I don't think they are coming anytime soon," Farnworth said.

"We've got the lowest or the second lowest distracting driving fines in the country.In terms of legislation itshouldn't be hard to draft because so far this session we haven't seen a lot of substance."