Port Coquitlam novice driver found asleep while vehicle was travelling, RCMP say

Coquitlam RCMP say officers found a driver sound asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle travelling through Port Coquitlam after receiving a report last week.

According to a Sept. 16 social media post, members of the Integrated Road Safety Unit eventually located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Police said the driver was a novice, or N, driver and was issued violation tickets for driving without due care and attention and failing to display an N sign. Police did not identify the driver or say where in Port Coquitlam the vehicle was located.

RCMP said drivers must remain in control whenever automated features are engaged while operating a motor vehicle in British Columbia. The province distinguishes Level 1 and 2 driver-assistance technology, such as lane-change assistance and automatic braking, from Levels 3 through 5, which can perform increasing portions of the driving task without a person actively driving.

Since April 2024, B.C.'s Motor Vehicle Act has prohibited the use of Level 3, 4 or 5 automated vehicles or automated-driving technology on public roads unless authorized by provincial regulation or a pilot project. Penalties can range from a $368 fine and three driver penalty points to $2,000 and six months in jail. Lower-level driver-assistance systems remain permitted, but drivers must stay engaged and in control.