There is a common understanding that points being added to your driving record is a bad thing as they can trigger premiums on your insurance. However, it is less common knowledge to know that your points are also reviewed by RoadSafety BC and can trigger driving prohibitions.
A driving prohibition is a period in which RoadSafety BC decides that your driving record has become unsatisfactory, and they refer you to the Driver Improvement Program. The Driver Improvement Program is not a program that you need to complete, but the authority that RoadSafety BC uses to determine if you have become an unsafe driver on the roads. The periods of prohibitions can range based on their policy guidelines starting at one month and increasing based on the number of points on the record, and seriousness of the offences.
As a driver in the Graduated Licensing Program, meaning you have a “L” or an “N”, you could be prohibited from driving from a single two-point ticket. If you are to receive a high-risk offence (electronic device, excessive speed, driving without due care/consideration or any impaired driving offences) you will receive an automatic prohibition from ICBC regardless of your record due to the inherent danger of those offences. Any points you receive on your driving record until you have passed your full license test could trigger ongoing and further driving prohibitions.
As a Class 5 driver, there are two ways in which you can be prohibited from driving based on your points. The first way is receiving two high risk offences within a one-year period. High risk offences for a Class 5 driver include use of an electronic device, excessive speeding and driving without due care/consideration. The second way is receiving 15-points on your driving record within a two-year period. This is basically the equivalent of five speeding tickets in two years. RoadSafety would then look at your five-year record to determine the length of the driving prohibition. So just because your points are not within the two years, does not mean they will not contribute in some way to the driving prohibition.
Are you in jeopardy of being prohibited from driving? Call us and we can discuss your options moving forward.