Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles
Driver Behaviour and Road Safety
Our Partners
OVERVIEW
The Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (OSMV) has many partners providing services, administrative functions and enforcement. Stakeholders collaborate with OSMV on outreach services and campaigns, road safety initiatives and legislation. This page lists many of these organizations and describes what they do in relationship with OSMV.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Stroh Health delivers the Responsible Driver Program, a remedial program for impaired drivers that provides alcohol and drug education and substance abuse counselling.
See also, Responsible Driver Program page on this website.
The OSMV may refer certain Driver Medical Fitness clients to a DriveAble provider for a Cognitive Assessment and/or On-Road Evaluation. There 'tests' are used to access the skills and abilities of cognitively or medically at-risk drivers – in order to determine licensing decisions.
See also, Driver Medical Fitness page on this website.
Guardian provides the installation, maintenance and monitoring of ignition interlock devices for clients. See also then the Ignition Interlock Program page on this website.
TOP
ROAD SAFETY INTEREST GROUPS
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is an international interest group heavily involved in the process of behavioural and legal changes to reduce the incidence and harmful effects of impaired driving. MADD supports the CounterAttack program and other public awareness campaigns, supports research, develops policy proposals and provides services to victims of impaired driving trauma.
BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – www.tsfbcaa.com
The BCAA-TSF works with families, communities and business partners to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes and injuries in BC by educating and promoting safe driving and road-use practices, and working in partnership with the OSMV and other partners to communicate road safety messaging to the public and its members (through their website and mailing lists). Be sure to browse their Resources page.
C.O.R.E.Y.
In memory of Corey Lodge, the Coalition Of Riders Educating Youth works with the OSMV and other organisations to support changes to legislation, culture and behaviour that will ensure others don’t lose their lives while operating motorcycles.
The Community Against Preventable Injuries – www.preventable.ca
Though a grass-roots initiative, The Community Against Preventable Injuries has become a province-wide, multi-partner organisation designed to raise awareness, transform attitudes, and ultimately change behaviours. Its goal is to significantly reduce the number – and severity – of preventable injuries in BC. With a positive approach to prevention, The Community focuses on what British Columbians can do to prevent injury, not what they should not do.
The BC IRPU works with public health and safety agencies to produce and transfer injury prevention knowledge and the integration of evidence-based injury prevention practices in the daily lives of those at risk in order to reduce the societal and economic burden of injury among all age groups in British Columbia.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Local Police (Municipal Departments – www.bc-pa.ca; RCMP Detachments – bc.rcmp.ca
As officers of the law, police play a key role in the delivery of road safety programming, messaging and administration. Police patrol the roads, investigate offences, consult driving records, apply sanctions, fill out processing forms and paperwork. They communicate the law through messaging at announcements, online, in press releases, media spots, print resources, and during community liaison interactions. For many drivers, police are the face of traffic laws and road safety in B.C.
BC Association of Chiefs of Police
The BC Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP) and its committees (such as the Traffic Safety Committee) meet with the OSMV to consult on Road Safety enforcement issues, strategies, communications and training.
TOP
GOVERNMENT
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
The BC Coroners Service (BCCS) investigates and reports on deaths in B.C., including those due to motor vehicle collisions and other road fatalities. Research, statistics and advising provided by BCCS to the OSMV informs the development of road safety initiatives and legislative changes.
Under the Civil Forfeiture Act, vehicles used for criminal activities can be forfeited by police under court order, and delivered to the Province. In doing so, vehicles used for dangerous road activities are removed from the roads, making an immediate impact on safety and sends a large message to would-be road offenders.
The Police Services Division (PSD) manages law enforcement functions in the Province: policing contracts, service funding, policy development, ministry reporting. One example of PSD programming working with the OSMV is the creation of Integrated Road Safety Units (IRSUs) in B.C. IRSUs are inter-municipal and RCMP forces working together on road safety and traffic enforcement priorities.
The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) As the regulator of alcohol-related activities in the Province, these agencies work with the OSMV to ensure servers, patrons and customers are informed about choices with respect to alcohol consumption and driving.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure – www.gov.bc.ca/tran
The ministry is responsible for many aspects of road safety in the province, including highway design, road signs, speed limits, vehicle standards and traffic flow. Moreover, highway workers are at-risk road users. The Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure consult on many issues while they share authority of the Motor Vehicle Act.
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia – www.icbc.com
Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC) works closely with government and the OSMV to promote Road Safety messaging.
ICBC provides services to clients on behalf of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles for the following functions (available at driver service centres or licensing offices):
- Vehicle registration and licensing
- Driver training, testing and licensing
- Other applications (such as Release Forms for impounded vehicles)
- Maintaining driving records and applying penalty points
- Assisting the OSMV with administrative aspects and some delegated decision functions of the Driver Improvement Program (DIP)
- Receiving payment and application for Reviews of sanctions for Vehicle Impoundment and Impaired Driving prohibitions.
ICBC imposes escalating insurance premiums on drivers with demonstrated risky behaviour on their driving record, such as penalty points, prohibitions and criminal driving convictions.
Transport Canada is the authority governing the manufacture and importation of vehicles in Canada, which includes responsibility for setting and enforcing standards in vehicle safety design such as brake systems, seat belts, air bags and ventilation systems.
WorksafeBC consults with the OSMV on initiatives designed to protect the safety of workers when their worksite includes roads and highways. For example, WorksafeBC and the OSMV collaborated on the Slow Down, Move Over initiative in 2009.
Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators – www.ccmta.ca
The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA and its North American counterpart, AAMVA in the U.S.) is composed of all motor transport administrators from across the country.
The Motor Vehicle Sales Authority (VSA) of B.C. is the delegated authority administrating the Motor Dealer Act, which governs the industry of motor vehicle sales in BC.
TOP
RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS
Traffic Injury Research Foundation – www.tirf.ca
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) conducts and publishes extensive peer reviewed research, consulting with CCMTA members to share statistics and collaborate on best practices.
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse – www.ccsa.ca
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) works under federal legislated mandate to provide national leadership and evidence-informed analysis and advice to mobilise collaborative efforts to reduce alcohol- and other drug-related harms. Working with the OSMV, the CCSA conducted the BC Roadside Survey on Impaired Driving, which measured, analysed and reported on the incidence of this behaviour on BC roads.
United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – www.nhtsa.gov
Dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) works daily to help prevent crashes and their attendant costs, both human and financial.
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
BC Medical Association – www.bcma.org
The BC Medical Association (BCMA) works with the OSMV to review and develop policies and guidelines that inform practices in the Driver Medical Fitness program. Doctors are often on the frontline with respect to decision making and other issues regarding the abilities of a medically at-risk or mature drivers being fit enough to continue driving, or under what conditions and restrictions. Additionally, OSMV program adjudicators must be knowledgeable about medical practices and research – topic-areas where the BCMA plays a leading role.
See also, the Driver Medical Fitness page on this website.
Insurance Bureau of Canada – www.ibc.ca
The IBC is the national industry association for private insurers in Canada. Since half of their premium base is derived from automotive insurance, a mutual goal of reducing the number of motor vehicle collisions and related injuries makes them a partner in road safety.
Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council – www.mmic.ca
As B.C.’s trade association representing the responsible interests of manufacturers, distributors and retail outlets, the MMIC promotes the safe and responsible use of motorcycles and scooters in the province, and works with other stakeholders to expand cooperation within and raise awareness about the community.
Automotive Retailers Association – www.ara.bc.ca
The ARA is a BC trade association whose members represent the province’s independent auto industry: maintenance, repair, towing, recovery, rental and dealers. ARA members ensure British Columbians have safe transportation vehicles.
Impound Lot Operators
Impound Lot Operators (ILOs) represent the industry of towing and storage companies who provide Vehicle Impoundment service upon application of these sanctions by police. Clients visit ILOs to make payment and retrieve their impounded vehicles upon release, and / or to make arrangements for the sale or disposal of their vehicle.
See also, Vehicle Impoundment page on this website.
Serving It Right is a mandatory self-study course in BC that educates licensees, managers and servers about their legal responsibilities when serving alcohol, and provides effective techniques to prevent problems related to over-service.
Top