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July 23, 2020 - 4:28 PM
If you open your vehicle's door without first checking to see if a cyclist is passing by, you'll soon be handed a ticket for $368.
The province is almost quadrupling the fine for 'dooring' as of Sept. 1. The fine will go from $81, one of the lowest in Canada, to $368, according to a Ministry of Transportation media release.
"Dooring can cause serious injury, and the new fine reflects that," Transportation minister Claire Trevena said in the release. "But it is preventable, which is why we are also investing in public education. We want to make sure everyone who uses the roads does so safely."
The province hopes the stiffer fine will help raise awareness by making drivers more aware of their actions.
"With cycling and other modes of active transportation becoming more popular, it's important to have the right policies in place for people to safely commute and get around in our province," Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra said in the release.
"Dooring can kill or severely injure a person. Making the offence of dooring equivalent to distracted driving and excessive speeding offences in terms of the fine is another necessary step to help keep our most vulnerable road users safe," he said.
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