@|\, PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA =^^fu£ ANNUAL REPORT For the fiscal year ending March 31, 1976 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS Hon. Jack Davis Minister Victoria, B.C., December 31, 1976 To Colonel the Honourable Walter S. Owen, Q.C., LL.D., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia May it please Your Honour: The undersigned takes pleasure in submitting the Annual Report for the Department of Transport and Communications for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1976. JACK DAVIS Minister of Transport and Communications Victoria, B.C., December 31, 1976 To the Honourable Jack Davis, Minister of Transport and Communications Sir: I have the honour to present for your consideration the report of activities of the Department of Transport and Communications for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1976. Respectfully submitted, f. a. Maclean Associate Deputy Minister (Transport Operations) CONTENTS Page Organization Ci Transport Opera ns Air Services Brz ch 9 Engineering inch 12 Motor Carrie^ -anch 15 Motor-vehiclt nch 15 Weigh Scale Bra h 44 Transport Planning, Research, and Development Bureau 46 Ferries Operations B.C. Ferries 47 Coastal Ferries 51 Communications Computer and Consulting Services Branch 53 System Development and Regulation Branch 55 Telecommunications Services Branch 57 Administration Finance 59 Personnel Services 60 ORGANIZATION CHART Motor Carrier Commission B.C. Hydro B.C. Energy Commissi* B.C. Steamship (1975) Ltd. B.C. Harbours Board Senior Policy Co-ordinalor Associate Deputy Minister (Transport Operations) Motor Carrier Branch Air Services Branch 1 Motor-vehicle Branch Engineering Weigh Scale Branch Branch Executive Assistant General Manager B.C. Ferries Associate Deputy Minister (Communications Service) Computer and Consulting Services Branch System Development and Regulation Branch Telecommunications Services Branch Transport, Planning. Research, and Development Bureau Departmental Comptroller Payroll—Accounts —— Coastal Ferries Administration and Personnel Information Services ORGANIZATION The British Columbia Department of Transport and Communications, with headquarters at 2631 Douglas Street in Victoria, has operations and planning and policy responsibilities in the transportation and communications fields in the Province of British Columbia. The Department is comprised of four service areas—Transport Operations, B.C. Ferries, Communications, and the Transport Planning, Research, and Development Bureau. Following are reports from the various branches which come under the jurisdiction of these areas. 8 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 9 TRANSPORT OPERATIONS This Division is comprised of five branches—Engineering, Motor Carrier, Motor-vehicle, Weigh Scale, and Air Services. Reports from these various branches follow. AIR SERVICES BRANCH This Branch is responsible for the provision of aircraft and crews to carry out air transportation, aerial photography, and air ambulance requirements of the Provincial departments. The two Beechcraft A 200's continued to be used for the high altitude photographic role in the summer and for passenger transportation, and air ambulance in the winter. The three Cessna Citation 500's were used throughout the year for passenger transportation and air ambulance, and the Turbo Beech 18 filled the role on the Victoria/Vancouver scheduled flight service in the summer and other transportation requirements in the winter. The two Beechcraft 18 aircraft were used for low-level photography, and for lease to the Government of Canada to undertake survey flying, including flight testing of a data acquisition system. The Otter aircraft on floats has been used for transportation and support of survey crews, aerial photography, and numerous other uses. The Beaver aircraft based at Kamloops was used in a similar role in that area. There was an increase of 24.596 per cent in the flying-time over the previous year and a corresponding increase of 81.37 per cent in the number of passengers carried. These increases were due to the addition of new aircraft and improved dispatch operation, which necessitated a staff increase of two people, bringing the total number of employees at year-end to 37. The new flight simulator was installed in May and became fully operational in July. A total of 224.6 hours was flown on the simulator, which not only improved the standard of training but reduced the in-flight training and corresponding costs to a minimum. The scheduled flight service between Victoria and Vancouver was increased to seven round trips daily, Monday to Friday. The service continues to be very popular with a good utilization of crew and equipment. All other flights continue to be on a non-scheduled basis. During the past fiscal year the Branch flew over 6,000 hours* in its air transportation, aerial photography, and air ambulance roles and carried over 23,000 Government employees over 2Vi million passenger miles. * This figure includes 925.6 hours flown on aerial photography in co-ordination with the Field Operations Division of the Department of Environment, and 105 air ambulance flights (289.3 hours) in co-ordination with the Emergency Health Service and Canadian Forces Rescue Centre. F 10 BRITISH COLUMBIA Air Services Branch Operations Aircraft- miles April May June July.__ August September October November* December January .... February March Totals 72,287 77,415 64,799 65,874 52,150 75,989 72,880 41,562 40,040 47,182 61,726 57,743 729,647 Seat- miles 498,141 509,245 423,068 412,435 342,240 497,372 504,126 302,157 271,846 339,381 405,607 420,703 4,926,321 Passenger- miles 262.661 263,498 226.380 225,135 178,943 235,939 254,690 162,308 152,009 172,166 223,020 232,635 Number of Passengers Schcd. 2,589,384 5,624 passengers, fiscal year 1973; 12,977 passengers, fiscal year 1,270 1,196 1,145 1,319 1,242 1,284 1,671 1,452 1,138 1.285 1,344 1,715 Other 958 1,000 716 606 341 738 722 394 350 503 516 632 Total 2,228 2,196 1,861 1,925 1,583 2,022 2,393 1,846 1,488 1,788 1,860 2,347 16.061 I 7,476 | 23,537* I I 1974. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 11 60 •S fe, 2 ^ ooffsm^ o\ as r- co tN v OS \£) 1- 00 0 H ^viinr-uiMnTrnn^g pj vo u 0 ra l/lCO "T t^ tf - HP1H fN y? 3 tno\t~~cr-^-rt — — o\o Tt | : ! MH^rtfoM'rnN rj 33 wO S" ^10;0;0rln0vi^^,t^ g O • -C tflZ ffl «y rnr^r-^o^qcN--o\r-voi/^(3, J 0 05 li ^;^OQO(SOW-)t-CTsfSOOOv C-) r— m i/^ 00 rN C —ipita^om-1 rn ini—r^mr-vcr-infi-^--^-,^ os u 0 O *o W O co qiooo^aon^vjNNf;\c vo r*irnv-irltNr Oo © r-; c> © --; i~*. ^ qri^h fi o\ t~- ^ vo r*i rj\ ! r> \d o\ c- r- li - ^ir- r-ooo\o 1 nr^tn 0 0 0 00 Ph O CO m 00 Ov 00 r- 00 vo —t © m ^ *t dflindomrldrltNNvo *t ii M^VOOOQN-^N- (S u ?■*"* in B U CO ni/i'o qr-ooo\nqc;cc r-; ,x 00 yj \d ci ' ri •<*' i-I \d © pt, W iX 00 r>i ' ci ^ 0 li rs cs — rN 1-1 i-i 1-1 ■ 0 2" a O 8«I O m rr tn •<-* tn tn 1 1 1 1 1 ; 0 in r-t tj- in r-1 o\ [i u m ,8"! m PL. s E q 1*) >0 w h in n >h >0 ff; ff; n hr^oddiNrnoddMoJ'-r- 0 0 li O miOMMn^mciM^NtN 0 mm *t 0 0 H -> £ u X) ^ < > I 1 > 0 : ty 5 < E a | 1 c Z E V u V Q 0 1 >— B s 3 F 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA A ir A mbulance Flights Number of AirVacs Number of Patients Flight Time (Hours) Mileage April _ May June July August September October 12 9 8 7 8 8 5 9 6 7 15 11 12 9 8 8 8 5* 5 9 6 8 16 25.9 33.7 26.8 27.6 16.7 17.0 20.3 16.7 25.3 19.9 22.3 37.1 5,626 7,413 6,823 7,416 4,205 3,944 4,260 3,875 5,428 January . 4,700 4,744 March _.._ 8,304 Totals 105 105 289.3 66,738 : One kidney pickup, one C/X en route, one doctor to Port Hardy re diphtheria patients. Aerial Photography Hours April 28.3 May 89.4 June 123.0 July 213.8 August _.__ 139.9 September 243.2 Hours October ______ ._... 24.9 November 24.7 December 18.7 January 10.7 February _ 1.3 March 7.7 Total 925.6 ENGINEERING BRANCH This Branch processes construction applications and inspects oil and natural gas pipelines, railways, aerial tramways, logging equipment on private roads, and certifies operating personnel for railways, aerial tramways, and industrial road equipment. Inspections carried out during the fiscal year included 228 aerial tramways, 144 pumping-stations, 46 bulk-fuel storage plants, 546 industrial vehicles, 197 locomotives, 27 railway yards, and 375 miles of industrial roads, 700 miles of railway trackage. In addition, 963 operating personnel were certified for Industrial Roads and Railways, and 74 accidents were investigated. The Branch was also involved in processing, inspecting, and testing the following new projects: 21 aerial tramways, 139 pipelines, 30 miles of railway trackage, two new air-brake systems implemented for logging trucks and trailers, plus 334 different types of crossing applications. Older air-brake schedules were rescinded because their design had become obsolete. The Branch is represented on two Pipeline Code Committees, the Mobile Equipment Committee, and the Provincial Emergency Programme and Hazardous Materials Committee. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 13 Engineering Branch Statistics, April 1, 1975, to March 31, 1976 Industrial road industry— Industrial vehicles inspected 546 Field and office air brake lecture attendance 850 Industrial vehicle driver examinations processed 873 Industrial roads inspected (miles) 375 Industrial road bridges inspected 10 New vehicle applications reviewed and processed 177 Mobile Equipment Committee meetings attended 19 Industrial road accidents investigated 5 New air system implemented for logging trucks and trailers _1_ 1 Railway industry— Railways under the jurisdiction of the DOTC: B.C. Railway B.C. Hydro and Power Authority Railway B.C. Harbours Board Railway Vancouver Wharves Canadian Forest Products Railway Crown Zellerbach Logging Railway MacMillan Bloedel Company Railway and some 21 other industrial railways plus three recreation railways. Locomotives inspected 197 Railway yards inspected 27 Railway operating personnel certified 90 New trackage applications reviewed and processed 17 Public crossings reviewed for future automatic signalization requirements 3 Railway accidents investigated 32 Railway trackage inspected (miles) 700 Bulk fuel storage plants inspected 46 Aerial tramways industry— Annual inspections 228 Engineering designs reviewed and processed for (1) new aerial tramway installations 21 (2) major modifications of existing equipment 3 Progress inspections carried out during various stages of construction of the 21 new aerial tramways 60 Pipelines industry— Number of pipeline projects reviewed and processed and endurance tested 139 Total length of pipelines approved for construction ____(miles) 221 Natural gas compressor stations inspected 69 Oil pumping stations inspected 61 Water injection pumping stations inspected 27 Pipeline crossing applications reviewed and processed 319 Pipeline failures investigated 32 F 14 BRITISH COLUMBIA Oil and Hazardous Material Spills for 1975 January 5 Union Oil 20 bbls. oil • February 24 Union Oil gas March 20 Union Oil gas March 23 Union Oil fresh water April 22 Texaco Exploration 30 bbls. oil April 23 Texaco Exploration 5 bbls. oil May 29 Inland Natural Gas gas May 7 Union Oil 1 bbl. oil June 17 Union Oil gas June 18 Amoco Oil salt water June 9 Texaco Exploration 1,000 bbls. fresh water July 7 Union Oil 1 bbl. oil July 12 Union Oil 15 bbls. oil July 14 Union Oil 5 bbls. oil July 21 Union Oil 2 bbls. oil July 26 Union Oil 15 bbls. oil July 31 Tenneco Oils 1,500 bbls. fresh water August 4 Union Oil 1 bbl. oil August 15 Texaco Exploration 150 bbls. oil August 17 Union Oil 50 bbls. oil August 5 B.P.O.G 50 bbls. oil September 21 Blueberry-Taylor 15 bbls. oil September Trans Prairie 10 bbls. oil September 21 Texaco Exploration 1 bbl. oil September 26 Pacific Petroleums 500 bbls. oil November 10 Union Oil 1 bbl. oil November 14 Union Oil 1 bbl. oil November Blueberry-Taylor 537 bbls. oil December 5 Union Oil 20 bbls. oil December 26 B.P.O.G 200 bbls. oil December 29 B.P.O.G 5 bbls. oil December 14 Tenneco Oils 500 bbls. fresh water Fall and winter— three instances Trans Prairie 10 bbls. oil EXAMINATIONS Railway operating examinations were conducted at various railway and plant sites during the year. Railway personnel who passed examinations and possessed the required experience and medical qualifications were issued with the appropriate certificates. The following certificates were issued in the various categories: Steam locomotive engineer, 40; diesel locomotive engineer, 9; trackmobile operator, 29; motorman, 4; switchman, 5; conductor, 2; dispatcher, 1. Industrial transportation: Number of field lectures, 19; number of office lectures, 4; field lecture attendance, 492; office lecture attendance, 48; field driver examinations, 340; office driver examinations, 663. Vehicles inspected: Logging trucks, 459; crummies, 36; gravel trucks, 46; loaders and spars, 5. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 15 MOTOR CARRIER BRANCH The Motor Carrier Branch serves as the operating arm of the Motor Carrier Commission, a regulatory tribunal appointed by Cabinet. The major function of the Motor Carrier Branch is to investigate applications for permanent motor carrier licence authority to transport goods or persons for compensation on British Columbia highways. Following investigation, all applications are referred to the Commission for a decision. Once the decision has been rendered, the application is returned to the Branch for processing. The Branch also investigates complaints from the shipping or travelling public regarding the service of licensed carriers. Headquarters is located in Burnaby, B.C., and there are seven offices throughout British Columbia located at Dawson Creek, Prince George, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson, Nanaimo, and Victoria. Enforcement under the Motor Carrier Act is undertaken by the RCMP and by weigh scale operators, who ensure that goods transported by freight concur with the conditions of licence granted to a carrier or ensure that goods are being transported by carriers adequately licensed under the Motor Carrier Act. Enforcement is also undertaken under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act (Canada). In this instance, the Federal Government has delegated authority to the Motor Carrier Commission. The Federal Motor Vehicle Transport Act applies to those operations of an extra-provincial nature, for example, an Alberta carrier must obtain authority not only from the home province of Alberta but from the British Columbia authorities before operating into and out of the Province of British Columbia. During the fiscal year the Motor Carrier Branch, through its administration and field Inspectors, investigated and processed approximately 3,000 applications for new or amended authorities. In addition to the applications referred to, investigations were conducted with respect to complaints from shippers and motor carriers. There were 21,857 motor carrier licences issued consisting of 1,224 bus licences, 2,030 taxi licences, 2,301 limited freight vehicle, and 16,302 public freight licences. Revenue collected for the licence-year 1975/76 amounted to $760,130.41. In addition to 21,857 licence-plates issued, there were 23,465 temporary permits issued to authorize temporary services in addition to authorities being held by licensed carriers or new services of short-term duration. MOTOR-VEHICLE BRANCH This Branch is the Provincial agency responsible for vehicle registration and licensing, vehicle inspection, driver licensing, and vehicle and driver safety programs. In addition, the Branch maintains a Central Registry for the recording of documents filed under the Bills of Sale Act, the Conditional Sales Act, the Mechanics' Lien Act, and the Assignment of Book Accounts Act. This report deals with activities of the Branch during the year 1975 and provides an accounting for the various aspects of licence issuance for the 1975 licence-year which ended on February 29, 1976. The volume of transactions completed by the Motor-vehicle Branch in the 1975 licence-year is indicated by the following issuance totals: Motor-vehicle, motor-cycle, and trailer registrations reached a total of 1,349,382. F 16 BRITISH COLUMBIA Original driver licences issued up to December 31, 1975, totalled 104,195, down from 130,630 during the same period in 1974. The total number of licensed drivers in British Columbia on December 31, 1975, was 1,571,271, an increase of 85,716 over 1974. Male drivers numbered 946,189, while there were 625,082 females. Revenue collected by the Branch from licences, permits, motor-vehicle inspection, and other services, such as the payment of social services tax, amounted to $52,078,704.91. This report deals extensively with motor-vehicle accidents, and includes statistical tables setting out information gathered from accident reports submitted by vehicle drivers. The number of persons killed on British Columbia highways in 1975 was 717, compared to 844 in 1974. Deaths per 100 million miles were 5.70, down from 6.80 in 1974 and 7.17 in 1973. Fatal accidents per 100 million miles were also down 4.71 in 1975, compared to 5.79 in 1974. Accidents to December 31, 1975, were 85,601, up from the 1974 figure, 84,445. The average property damage in 1975 rose to $1,017.33, up from the 1974 figure of $995.26. Total property damage in 1975 was $87,084,593.59. Information about the Motor-vehicle Inspection Program is included in the report. During 1975, there were 515,472 vehicles inspected and the rejection rate was 27.2 per cent. The Central Registry, which is carried out as a function of the Motor-vehicle Branch, is a repository in the Province for documents filed under the Bills of Sale Act, the Conditional Sale Act, the Mechanics' Lien Act, and the Assignment of Book Accounts Act, which concerns all types of personal chattels. The various activities of the Branch are dealt with under the following headings: Licences. Accidents and Convictions. Driving: Driver Improvement Program. Examination of Drivers. Motor-vehicle Inspection. Central Registry. School Buses. Permits for Flashing Red and Amber Lights, Sirens, and Theft Alarms. Staff. LICENCES The total number of vehicles licensed in the Province during 1975 was 1,349,382, an increase of 15,491 or 1.16 per cent over the 1974 total of 1,333,891. There were 884,250 passenger vehicles licensed, an increase of 4,499 or 0.51 per cent on the 1974 total of 879,751. Licensed commercial vehicles totalled 283,198 in 1975, a 4.85 per cent increase over the 1974 total of 270,101. There were 19,971 motor-cycles licensed in 1975, down from the 1974 total of 21,184, a 5.73-per-cent drop. Licensed trailers decreased 0.55 per cent to a 1975 total of 161,963, down 892 from the 1974 total, 162,855. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 17 Comparative Statement of Licences, Permits, Etc., Issued During the Licence-years 1968—75, inclusive Licences Issued Motor-vehicles— Passenger Commercial Total motor-vehicles. Motor-cycles Trailers Extra-Provincial prorated trucks Extra-Provincial prorated trailers Total of all licensed vehicles Transfer of ownership— Passenger vehicles - Commercial vehicles Motor-cycles Trailers - Total transfer of ownership Motor-dealers— Original licences Additional licences Original motor-cycle dealer licences Additional motor-cycle dealer licences Transporter—■ Original licences Additional licences - Manufacturer—■ Original licences Additional licences Trailer floater— Original licences Additional licences Repairman— Original licences Additional licences Permits— Nonresident touring motor-vehicle permits Nonresident special motor-vehicle permits Nonresident commercial motor- vehicle permits: Single trip Ouarterly _.. Totals Temporary operation permits- Passenger - Commercial - Totals Temporary testing and demonstration permits— Passenger - Commercial Totals _. Interim licence/insurance certificates All-terrain vehicles—■ Registration Substitution Transfer of ownership Totals Air brake manuals 1968 740,979 177,633 918,612 18,464 102,068 2,713 7,859 1,049,716 351,092 62,370 11,391 9,637 434,490 1,140 1,332 120 85 1969 1 1970 | 1971 1972 790,4931 197,755 811,590| 856,086 207,495] 228,098 988,248] 1,019,08511,084,184 20,905] 114,420] 3,2311 8,009 22,500] 25,339 129,864] 141,978 3,093] 3,699 6,640 7,335 I 1,134,813|1,181,182 1,262,535 I 383,477] 71.858J 13,447]. 12,003 I 347,879] 70,522| 15,334| 14.337J 405,928 86,003 17,278 19,167 480,785] 448,072] 528,376 1.173| 1,538] 124 95 30 87 1,204 1,490 141 84 929 32 15,690 2,408 590 19 20,696 3,029 1,205 1,538 148 134 44 141 540 10 21,596 3,156 550 1 33,880 4,488 18,098] 23,725] 24,75,2] 17,599] 42,128| 20,260 49,665 59,727| 69,925 20,805 52,831 23,814 69,648 73,636| 93,462 906,268 256,313 l7i627581 29,372 156,143 4,048 8,090 1,360,234 439,242 101,424 20,044 22,022 "582,732 1,274 1,674 150 158 53 177 1973 961,497 286,925 17248,422 33,495 171,869 5,067 10,714 1,469,567 452,980 112,273 22,279 26,282 ~613,814 1,392 2,146 167 207 72 244 496 2 33,443 4,001 ~Z1A44 26,600 80,603 17,456 84 908 18,448 1974 [ 1975 I 879,751] 884,250 270.101J 283,198 1,149T852|1,167,448 21,184 162,855 9,202 14,024 19,971 161,963 8,625 14,658 1,357,11711.372,665 291,027] 338,878 69,908] 88,012 11,312| 12,214 22,613] 25,890 194,860 [~4 64,994 468 3 40,508 4,900 I 1,408] 2,098 215 93 214| 4891 I 10| 10 58 346] I 39] I 266| 39,923] 2,412 1,489 2,334 182 93 191 371 12 9 105 338 290 138 226 34,606 4,881 45,408| 42,335] 39,487 29,402] 75,983] 52,027] 60,2211 41,558 47,674 105,3851 112,248| 89,232 631 11,788 2,231 .| 1,951] 14,019 ]4,144l 14,227 6,356] 3,983 141| 89 2,8811 2,580] 3,425 13(1 2,559 9,378] 6,652] 15.0771 6,115 14.339 f 18 british columbia Drivers' Licences Original drivers' licences issued during the 1975 licence-year totalled 104,195, a decrease of 26,435 from 130,630 issued in 1974. The number of licensed drivers in British Columbia as of December 31, 1975, was 1,571,271, an increase of 85,716 over the 1974 total of 1,485,555. There were 946,189 male drivers, while female drivers numbered 625,082. The analysis of drivers on record as of December 31, 1975, indicating sex and classification, are shown hereunder. Analysis of Drivers on Record as of December 31, 1975 MALE CLASSIFICATIONS Age 1 1, 6 ] 1 2 !2,6| 3 1 1 1 3,6 1 3,4 1 3,4,5 4 4,6 1 5 1 5,6 1 1 1 6 I Total 1 1 77 22 ...._..(...... 67 23 5] 483 65511901 2.842 7 25 807 978 182 85 28 2 1 25,998] 1,301 36,4981 3,418 91 491115783 1 136) 27,510 18-19 „ . 95 788 866 305 5 264 1,003 626 2 103 181 56 27 9 230 3,540 7,836 3,474 2,442 1,385 220 69 3 3 2 176| 41,059 703)119,532 20-24 „ 1.7491 517 25-34 „ 8,226] 1,085|2,754]354| 7,871 7,952] 5062,1671131 6,684 48091 22811.7831 761 5.702 198,350 143,726 126.919 14,623 2,995 1.705 4671244 594 35^(4 ,, 60] 168,864 45-54 „ .... 1781 442 61|144,457 55-64 „ .". 1,496 46 1021 2 1.1811 231 3.170 44 171 14 2 99.7681 638 411108,000 65-69 „ .... 121 19 2 1| 278 11 33 38,393 25,744 14,308 7,630 3,590 1,326 102 39 25 23 10 241 39,259 70-74 ,, 10 30| 25,947 18| 14,358 75-79 „ 2 1 80-84 ,, 1 10| 7,668 85-89 „ 5] 3,607 90 and over 8| 1,334 Totals 24,423)2,506 1 8,705 781|27,133 1 2283)2,527 1 378| 19,204 1 2,107 813,741 [40,662| 1,739)946,189 I I I FEMALE CLASSIFICATIONS 1 j 2 7 1 0 2 1 2 1 1 8 3 1 1 30 459 857 528 346 98 7 1 1 1 25 28 6 3 I 16.323| 51 28,504| 142 85,726| 905 177.484 1,190 114,337 252 95,492| 98 67.150) 25 17,999| 7 9,0051 4 4,524] 5 1.794| 2 525 2 116 1 9] 16,387 18-19 „ 5 15 54 33 22 2 2 8 3!..._. 15| 28,707 20-24 „ 40 144 144 93 27 3 11 24 87| 87,287 25-34 „ 5 3 1 48 45 40 7 76] 179,903 35^14 „ 17(115,370 45-54 „ 16| 96,113 55-64 „ 3| 67,312 65-69 „ _. | 2] 18,018 70-74 „ ._ 1 4) 9,015 75-79 „ 1 1 ____.. . | 4,530 80-84 „ | 1,797 85-89 „ - 1 1— 527 90 and over. _____ I - | 116 Totals 1321 101 454 101 174 71 13 2,328 63 618.9791 2.683 229|625,082 1 The following is a general description of driver licence classes: Class 1—Includes any vehicles except motor-cycles. Class 2—Includes large buses. Class 3—Trucks and combinations with small trailers. Class 4—Taxis and small buses. Class 5—Private cars and small trucks. Class 6—Motor-cycles. Motor Dealers' Licences Motor dealers' licences were issued by the Branch for the 1975 licence-year only to November 24, 1975, at which time the issuance, required by individuals or firms whose businesses involve the buying and selling of motor-vehicles, motorcycles, or trailers, became the responsibility of the Department of Consumer Ser- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 19 vices. During the 1975 licence-year to November 24, 1975, 1,489 original, 2,334 additional, and 544 substitution motor dealers' licences permitting the sale of motor-cycles and trailers were issued. Three hundred and five licences permitting the buying and selling, but not demonstration of motor-vehicles and trailers, were also issued. A prerequisite of the issuance of a motor dealers' licence or the retention of such a licence is that an insurance bond be supplied to the Superintendent of Insurance in the amount of $5,000 or security be filed with the Minister of Finance in a similar amount. The insurance bonds were filed with the Branch on behalf of the Superintendent of Insurance and, in 1975, 407 dealers' bonds were filed of which 250 were original bonds for new motor dealers and 157 were replacement bonds. There were 307 bonds cancelled during the 1975 licence-year. Security was filed with the Minister of Finance by nine motor dealers. DISTRIBUTION OF MOTOR-VEHICLES The distribution of motor-vehicles in the various centres of the Province is always of interest. The following table gives information concerning the number of licences issued throughout the Province. Since vehicle owners move frequently from one area to another, and vehicles are often sold to new owners residing in different locations from previous owners, the table cannot be regarded as an accurate population count of vehicles in the various parts of the Province. However, the table does provide a guide to the distribution of vehicles throughout the Province. Licences Issued Name District Passenger Commer Commer Utility Motor Code cial cial Trailer Trailer cycle Abbotsford 190 12,547 4,204 213 2,120 424 Agassiz 036 1,281 611 22 272 39 510 2,765 2,004 62 967 160 Aldergrove 191 4,441 1,886 81 804 93 Atlin 514 3 Armstrong 085 1,513 969 37 379 48 Ashcroft 042 1,263 869 26 372 40 Barriere 159 659 534 22 168 12 Bella Coola .. 083 161 308 145 439 115 14 14 58 42 14 Blue River 5 Boston Bar 044 294 167 3 45 9 046 51 50 15 4 Burnaby. 103 53,674 12,429 2,865 5,996 919 048 1,289 1,198 54 467 44 010 6,710 3,092 130 2,036 228 Cassiar Mines 182 269 265 4 61 25 Castlegar 123 3,943 1,582 34 928 111 Chase 050 1,719 1,109 48 515 54 Chemainus 017 1,404 668 18 371 27 Chilliwack _- _ 038 14,380 4,918 240 2,946 558 Clinton 052 442 435 21 145 10 Cloverdale 028 21,004 6,188 284 3,218 365 Courtenay 012 9,388 3,756 79 3,090 350 Cowichan _.... 018 1,720 747 4 488 59 Cranbrook 125 5,706 3,180 632 1,435 200 Creston 127 3,233 2,084 95 899 82 167 4,498 3,603 335 1,433 154 Duncan 019 9,963 4,095 308 2,204 273 Eikford 516 1,667 1,006 23 453 114 Enderby 087 1,295 948 70 335 33 Fernie 131 3,253 2,003 61 736 140 Fort Nelson 181 904 962 79 273 30 Fort St. James 185 753 654 37 225 37 Fort St. John 169 4,571 4,394 325 1,426 I 185 F 20 BRITISH COLUMBIA Ganges Golden —_ Gold River Grand Forks Greenwood Haney Hazelton Hope ... Houston Hudson's Hope Invermere — Kamloops Kaslo Kelowna Keremeos — Kimberley ._ Kitimat Ladysmith __. Lillooet _ Lytton McBride Merritt - Mission Nakusp Nanaimo Natal Nelson New Denver New Westminster area ... Northern Vancouver Island North and West Vancouver- Ocean Falls — Oliver _ 100 Mile House __ Osoyoos Parksville - Penticton __ Point Roberts, U.S.A...-. Port Alberni Powell River.. — — Prince George Prince Rupert Princeton „ — Qualicum Queen Charlottes Quesnel Revelstoke Richmond Riondel Salmo Salmon Arm Saltspring Island — Sechelt Sidney - Slocan —- Smithers - Sooke Squamish — Surrey — Terrace - Tofino — Trail Ucluelet — - - Vancouver - — Vanderhoof Valemount .._ Vavenby —- - - Vernon - - Victoria Wells Williams Lake Out of Province Miscellaneous — Totals District Code 023 133 016 089 C91 032 054 040 056 186 135 157 137 093 095 139 058 021 059 061 171 063 034 141 006 143 150 145 003 515 004 183 099 065 100 014 112 512 008 175 067 069 114 015 520 071 116 102 147 148 118 513 173 025 155 073 026 177 029 075 180 152 179 002 077 163 165 121 001 079 081 529 999 Passenger 1,760 1,955 525 2,270 806 11,930 743 1,837 863 885 1,699 20,686 405 26,042 902 2,903 3,528 2,481 723 255 464 2,225 5,821 704 16,604 31 5,539 355 48,975 4,501 56,256 130 1,979 2,386 1,495 2,237 12,434 1,404 8.793 5,799 20,676 4,239 1,360 1,451 983 5,058 2,309 55,130 108 739 4,839 1,020 4,059 5,591 510 2.088 1,684 2.239 41,698 4,464 274 8,227 467 171,842 1,993 418 1,061 12,964 83,116 106 4,697 369 86 Commercial Commercial Trailer 884,250 694 1,235 197 1,196 665 3,754 607 1,081 609 889 1,332 10,063 243 9,261 637 1,412 1,220 989 585 224 419 1,485 2,114 553 5,764 22 2,248 236 9,699 2,830 6,740 66 1,016 1,911 727 876 4,642 838 3,616 2,096 11,565 1,514 913 620 747 3,626 1,330 9,728 58 417 2,824 555 1,775 1,323 359 1,670 861 1,136 11,556 2,958 137 2,627 304 32,050 1,770 347 824 6,169 22,645 47 4,090 588 110 ~283,~198~ 21 82 3 85 31 83 48 90 63 50 70 595 11 490 19 21 33 27 17 4 26 77 72 21 195 2 51 3 581 28 563 3 40 98 17 19 214 26 40 34 771 65 40 10 10 223 57 318 Utility Trailer 23 100 5 28 29 10 88 35 58 360 152 3 99 8 3.775 104 13 44 354 1,311 1 226 526 4 298 440 177 496 157 2.225 174 371 233 329 436 4,750 110 5.618 212 804 876 708 201 52 108 720 1.034 277 3.827 3 1,137 91 6,749 923 4,701 22 418 713 296 662 2,693 260 2,636 1,827 5,389 681 389 419 187 1,415 548 6,658 39 177 1.392 134 769 969 93 592 337 396 7.644 1,189 47 1,903 128 11.391 589 114 292 3,025 12,011 24 1,230 56 7 Motorcycle 57 94 37 102 43 258 30 56 32 22 53 520 29 745 53 108 119 76 31 18 23 50 135 38 534 200 17 898 190 860 17 49 63 30 47 394 62 227 117 517 135 65 27 59 200 112 804 28 166 24 130 113 12 75 55 108 853 109 10 272 23 2.451 99 18 47 374 1.658 4 138 19,043 | 142,920 | 19,971 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 21 Licensed motor-vehicle populations by area as obtained from reports were prepared on behalf of the Superintendent of Motor-vehicles by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. These reports were compiled from verified transactions processed through the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia Data Centre on behalf of this Department. Passenger vehicles 876,119 Motor homes 8,131 884,250 Commercial vehicles 283,198 Commercial trailers 19,043 Utility trailers 142,920 Motor-cycles 19,971 Total licensed vehicles 1,349,382 Registered vehicles totalled 2,073,322, an increase of 11.77 per cent over the 1974 licence-year. Passenger vehicles 1,320,664 Motor homes 10,802 1,331,466 Commercial vehicles 402,401 Commercial trailers 35,386 Utility trailers 241,699 Motor-cycles 62,370 Total registered vehicles 2,073,322 The discrepancy between vehicles registered and vehicles licensed is created by licensed motor dealers being allowed to hold unlicensed motor-vehicles for sale and vehicles registered that have not been activated for the 1975 licence-year. REVENUE Revenue received by the Motor-vehicles Branch from licences, permits, and motor-vehicle inspection amounted to $52,078,704.91. Funds collected under the Motive-fuel Use Tax Act, All-terrain Vehicles Act, social services tax, and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia premiums, amounted to $10,730,- 861.65. A further $31,290,786.00 in insurance premiums was collected by Motor- vehicle Branch Offices and accounted for directly to the Insurance Corporation. Source of Revenue, 1975 Licence-year Revenue collected by the Motor-vehicle Branch pursuant to Motor-vehicle Act 3,707,788.62 Commercial Transport Act 2,586,482.29 $ 6,294,270.91 F 22 BRITISH COLUMBIA Revenue collected by the Insurance Corporations of British Columbia on behalf of the Motor-vehicle Branch— Motor-vehicle Act fees— $ $ Passenger vehicles 18,625,547.00 Motor-cycles 89,502.00 Notices of Transfer 422,730.00 Duplicates of Registration/Certificate of Insurance 129.00 19,137,908.00 T Commercial Transport Act fees—commercial vehicles 19,775,041.00 Combined fees under Motor-vehicle Act and Commercial Transport Act— $ Trailers 686,801.00 New vehicle registration 294,608.00 Substitution plates 82,355.00 Decal replacements 6,441.00 1,070,205.00 Other fees 5,801,280.00 45,784,434.00 Total revenue — Motor-vehicle/Commercial Transport Acts 52,078,704.91 Other revenue collected by the Motor-vehicle Branch— $ Motive fuel tax 70,255.15 All-terrain Vehicles Act 17,671.00 Social services tax 448,370.36 Insurance Corporation of British Columbia premiums 10,194,565.14 Total 10,730,861.65 Insurance Corporation of British Columbia premiums collected by Motor-vehicle Branch and accounted for directly to the Insurance Corporation 31,290,786.00 Refunds Legislation provides for refunding of licence fees paid in instances where the licence-plates are surrendered to the Superintendent. A person who was allocated motor-vehicle licence-plates for use on a vehicle registered in his name can, upon disposal of the vehicle, retain, destroy, or attach the number-plates to a substitute vehicle, or surrender them to the Superintendent, together with an application for refund of fees. Refunds for motor-vehicle licence-plates are granted on the basis of the unexpired portion of the licence-year, but no refund is made of an amount less than $5. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 23 On reassignment of motor-vehicle licence-plates to a substitute vehicle, no refund is granted if the combined licence and insurance fee is less than $5. The fee for the unexpired full years of the five-year driver's licence is refundable under the following circumstances upon surrender of the licence to this Branch: (a) The licence has been suspended due to the failure of the licensee to qualify in a driver's examination. (b) The licensee has taken up residence outside the Province. (c) The licensee is deceased. (d) The licensee has voluntarily surrendered his driver's licence. The following summary sets out the amount of money refunded for the 1975 licence-year: Refunds, 1975 General refunds— Motor-vehicle Act— $ $ Passenger 37 229.00 Drivers 5 66.00 Commercial Transport Act—Commercial 53 1,291.00 Total general refunds 1,576.00 Relinquishment refunds— Motor-vehicle Act and Commercial Transport Act— Cancellations 1,614,222.00 Mid-term endorsements 161,711.00 Drivers 1,756 4,354.50 Dealers 89 1,287.00 Total relinquishment refunds 1,781,574.50 Grand total 1,783,150.50 ACCIDENTS AND CONVICTIONS MOTOR-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS The following table gives a summary of the accident frequency during the period 1966 to 1975: Year Accidents Motor- Number per 1,000 vehicles of Acci Vehicles Registered dents Registered 817,348 44,177 54.05 864,348 49,750 57.56 917,872 58,300 63.51 989,196 70,624 71.39 1,024,738 60,778 59.35 1,087,992 59,745 54.91 1,164,749 59,996 51.51 1,248,422 69,564 56.00 1,333,891 84,445 63.30 1,349,382 85,601 63.44 Injuries Deaths Deaths per 10,000 Vehicles Registered Average Property Damage per 100 Fatal Acci Miles dents 7.60 445 7.67 461 7.36 460 6.39 467 6.70 471 6.51 538 6.90 602 Fatal Accidents per 100 Million Miles 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973. 1974. 1975 19,449 19,500 20,945 22,535 22,568 22,340 23,316 27,709 28,699 25,003 $ 520 6.4 592.91 559 6.5 565.58 574 6.2 570.87 542 5.4 586.29 559 5.5 731.63 636 5.8 775.60 716 6.1 863.44 825 6.7 969.00 844 6.3 995.26 717 5.3 1,017.33 7.17 6.80 5.70 698 718 593 6.51 6.33 5.90 5.50 5.64 5.54 5.80 6.07 5.79 4.71 F 24 BRITISH COLUMBIA Reportable accidents are those where the aggregate property damage exceeds $200 or a person is injured or killed. The number of accidents in 1975 increased to 85,601 from 84,445 in 1974. In 1975, fatal accidents numbered 593 and fatalities were 717, a reduction from the 718 accidents and 844 fatalities in 1974. The ratio of deaths per 100 million miles dropped from 6.80 in 1974 to 5.70 in 1975. Similarly, fatal accidents per 100 million miles in 1975 stands at 4.71, down from 5.79. Property damage rose in 1975 to a total of $87,084,593.59, a slight increase over the 1974 figure, $84,045,060.61. The average property damage in 1975 was $1,017.33, up 2.2 per cent from $995.26 in 1974. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 25 inoomp-NCONtNrivo a\ tN-imp-oomooNOm 0\ X) o inMNO- — NOCTs(N Tt H£ oO. ra >c m »-irno h oo ^ — O fn rt — (N Tt P* rf (*T ft CO cs u 3 ■* -J - «* Ph E w C!3>H -0\«O\mtS^0i- ■a u moomr-'iCCTvn — \D On NhvOO ! 00 (Ni—iinp-ooinco^m ON P- ri o\ Crt w 3 \0 m — m ^o -i co NO_ tnQ no 'c P-^rt rn ri CO tN rt m ooriooNccTfntN- CO i3 .i « —uNoOifiC- OOOrt mr-cT-oP-'^rN(NNO in o — oo 00 o o rt ^^ <■* <■< rf H oo m^ rn \o no Nh ri rt >. "2 O tn O ON OV rH —* n" CO "n 60 a in rt tyim^irp-P-m'tiN o •a 3 mp-inrttN — p~Nors NO NO m — n -i (N n n n p- N On >-. a tx & cd 09 c CJ c3 O U rt tn tn O 00 — O " ri cenNn ri ^2 o •a a) NOrtO — OO — (SP-rt rr©noN<-nocTtrfh cj a a < O ^^ •"• tN ^> CJ a P rt mrNONmcnNOrtONNO tn H •J-. w r-ininNOP-p-r-mr) -s: 1 C\ m oo r- tn rs — a\ rNoomortomom O -^_ o N*O^H ri r- rt no -i Tt in rt 00 — « x. Z fN co ■* <-s ri oo' © PH n' in so i- oo 0 m ■+-, 3a rt.2> C3 Z rt m©rtoooor-in©P- «* ca a u CJ o PS w 7 tN On fN m m — *OrN« ^Ol^«HH^ tn «n00(NO — — NOCnM rt •S ^ o" ^* OS. rt ft o m rt ri fs| m (S —i n rt 00 p r* Ttooocoo.— ONmrtoo tn to 0 7 tn oo o rt p- -h rN O (N n m m ri o no r^ tn ft i \ ft tn n i ! ! O p* JC "« \£> ^t -5 s 60 7 O 0O 00 Tf 00 m in o T in in p~ rt ■^j ■ -NhTf m rf ra JJ HE rtOfNO\mcOrfrtm no ^O ON rn m — no IO rn (S n" o o, tn tN o CO S w 1 m p- oo ri xt ! in ft ! on p- r- tN in ; ON (N rt "n —I fN OO «-> NO — MOt in m 00 tN m O NO | I rH j (N tn CJ a. O O H oonw^^oriHii o'oCoC-T r-1 w NO 00 2 m fn tN on —" ; o fN 5 •v r-inin^rtp-p-r-w-id rt NO — ^ »n Tf 00 i-i S a »3 t4-l o — i t« Si 8 1 u o ts oo no cn : m n m c H<-o& SO Si oo oo rt — Tf j ON •—* 3 o a; <3 .0 E a 3 rt s mmr-coo — rtrtfS rt CO (N — NO n ii fN •S •a n n n in c cd « •j-TJ Oj mp-mrtr-ir-r-NOtN r- H Z W Q NO NO Nii i p~ CJ Vi O t H c < 41 Z n ; ^ o 4 ca c .2 u s a o I '3 irt o _ e V [ 4 E= a '5 9 C V u < a 5 » „ > •S 5l .2 ct u. -= nS-O.S r7-a 1 *H H S « o c e O C S o c o.2 1 C- 1 u £ £ I c < fe c o (J i C f- O w a, >■ c o c «| &.S Si 3 H ■ge:S h "Qr^rimTrm^OP^cooN "5ri(NmTtmNor-oooN 0 V F 26 BRITISH COLUMBIA Statistical Summary of Motor-vehicle Accidents in the Province for the Year 1975—Continued 2. HOUR OF OCCURRENCE Number of Accidents Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 12 to 1 a.m. . . 385 375 236 149 95 82 105 294 328 292 350 393 441 445 540 668 763 597 441 468 418 418 391 357 76,570 44 45 25 17 13 7 6 15 12 13 67 68 50 22 14 12 23 47 66 40 274 262 161 110 4 to 5 a.m 68 63 6 to 7 a.m 7 to 8 a.m 76 232 8 to 9 a.m. 250 9 to 10 a.m 239 10 to 11 a.m. - 13 63 274 11 to 12 m. 21 1 64 308 12 to 1 p.m. 26 27 20 25 26 35 38 36 27 38 40 24 ........ 74 80 96 131 153 111 87 99 80 59 72 71 14,686 341 1 to 2 p.m. 338 2 to 3 p.m. 424 512 584 5 to 6 p.m -..- - 6 to 7 p.m 7 to 8 p.m 451 316 333 8 to 9 p.m. 311 9 to 10 p.m 10 to 11 p.m. 321 279 11 to 12 p.m.. 262 61,884 Totals ... 85,601 593 16,335 68,673 DAY OF OCCURRENCE Number of Accidents Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. Sunday 2. Monday 3. Tuesday 4. Wednesday. 5. Thursday 6. Friday 7. Saturday 8. Not stated _ Totals 1,121 1,137 1,211 1,119 1,210 1,684 1,566 76,553 99 61 79 48 75 92 139 226 199 232 206 199 307 285 14,681 796 877 900 865 936 1,285 1,142 61,872 85,601 593 16,335 68,673 Number of Vehicles Involved Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 12,533 2,527 52 71 17 140 7 3 30,489 1 630 1 2.173 9,730 2. Truck 3. Bus 198 4 5 32 439 12 13 4 63 1,890 36 53 13 45 ----- 1 -1 2 | 24,535 4 8. Ambulance 1 5,954 45,839 869 1 27.244 17,726 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 27 Statistical Summary of Motor-vehicle Accidents in the Province for the Year 1975—Continued 5. RAILROAD CROSSINGS Number of Accidents Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. Unguarded crossing 7 2 1 95 2 1 1 2 24 3 1 1 70 Totals 105 4 26 75 6. MANNER OF COLLISION Number of Accidents Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 3,739 1,531 1,741 496 527 77,567 171 253 21 5 5 138 680 340 354 17 24 14,920 2,888 938 3. Rear-end collision 1,366 474 5. Side-swiped other vehicle going same direction 6. Not stated 498 62,509 85,601 593 16,335 68,673 7. DRIVERS INVOLVED, Number of Drivers DESCRIPTION OF Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. Male 10,296 2,924 32,619 1 744 1,951 107 638 18 | 24,655 7,601 2. Female 2,179 3. Not stated 7,946 45,839 869 27,244 17,726 Age of Driver Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. 16 to 17 years 2. 18 to 19 years 3. 20 to 24 years 4. 25 to 34 years 5. 35 to 44 years 6. 45 to 54 years 7. 55 to 64 years 8. 65 to 69 years 9. 70 years and over.. 1,208 1,543 2,623 3,082 1,857 1,442 925 292 256 62 103 180 201 120 93 46 24 23 236 296 539 611 361 273 167 57 52 910 1,144 1,904 2,270 1,376 1,076 712 211 181 Driving Experience Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. Less than 3 months 2. 3 to 6 months 3. 6 to 12 months 4. 1 to 4 years 5. 5 years and over 6. Not stated ... 421 815 365 3,416 8,772 32,050 43 4 6 231 568 17 82 114 71 668 1,722 24,587 296 697 288 2,517 6,482 7,446 F 28 BRITISH COLUMBIA Statistical Summary of Motor-vehicle Accidents in the Province for the Year 1975—Continued Condition of Driver Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. Normal 12,566 117 33 57 356 582 32,128 730 6 6 1 105 5 16 2,452 31 9 12 70 14 24,656 9,384 80 18 44 5. Ability impaired 181 563 7. Not stated 7,456 Licence of Driver Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. Licensed in British Columbia 2. Unlicensed 12,646 103 467 32,623 763 24 65 17 2,474 28 86 24,656 9,409 51 316 4. Not stated 7,950 8. ACTION OF DRIVER CONTRIBUTING Number of Drivers TO ACCIDENT Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. No improper driving 2. Driving off roadway 3. Did not have right-of-way 5,531 1,734 1,476 665 920 457 76 262 59 221 1,332 182 107 21 35 580 11 54 1,278 7 318 155 43 14 5 103 2 5 2 61 126 1 3 6 1 8 2 10 1,085 349 266 161 202 96 10 67 11 44 251 13 13 4 2 7 3 5 55 5 4,128 1,230 1,167 490 713 6. On wrong side of road 258 64 190 46 116 955 12. Cutting in 13. Car ran away ," 14. Passing on curve or hill 168 91 11 32 16. Hit and run '. 565 6 49 1,213 20. Driving through safety-zone 2 Totals... 15,008 865 2,649 11,494 TRAFFIC CONTROL Number of Accidents Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. No control present 2. Police officer 3. Automatic traffic signal 4. Stop signs 5. Warning signs, slow signs, etc Totals 6,750 46 1,068 846 323 506 31 15 39 1,130 11 265 159 82 9,033 591 1,647 5,114 35 772 672 202 6,795 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 29 Statistical Summary of Motor-vehicle Accidents in the Province for the Year 1975—Continued 10. PEDESTRIANS INVOLVED, ACTIONS OF Number of Pedestrians Total Fatal Personal Injury 1. Not known 1,185 47 51 32 8 31 36 7 12 12 3 1 4 1 17 5 14 26 12 2 15 24 2 3 3 8 1,180 33 25 4. Coming from behind parked or moving vehicle 5. Crossing at intersection with signal 20 6 16 12 7 10 9 11. Getting on or off another vehicle 12. Riding or hitching on vehicle 13. Working on car or roadway.. 3 1 1 9 Totals 1,447 114 1,333 Condition of Pedestrian Number of Pedestrians Total Fatal Personal Injury 219 3 3 18 10 1,194 88 3 2 12 5 4 131 1 6 5 6. Not stated 1.190 Totals 1,447 114 1,333 11. CLASSIFICATION OF VICTIMS Number of Victims Total Fatal Personal Injury 11,554 11,205 1,447 549 709 16 192 48 233 329 114 14 24 3 ----- 11,321 10,876 1,333 535 685 6. Others (persons in horse-drawn vehicles, etc.) 16 189 8. Not stated - 48 Totals... 25,720 717 25,003 12. NATURE OF INJURIES Number of Victims Total Fatal Personal Injury 1. Slight shock and shake-up 2. Fractured skull ._ 3. Fractured spine 4. Other fractures 5. Other injuries (sprains, dislocations, etc.) . 6. Internal injuries 7. Concussion of brain ._. 8. Severe general shock with bruises and cuts . 9. Cuts by glass (only) 10. Drowned 11. Burned 12. Asphyxiated 13. Not stated ...._ Totals. 791 218 35 294 959 576 52 594 90 46 30 5 22,030 25,720 166 22 10 462 27 25 5 717 791 52 13 284 959 114 52 594 90 19 5 22.030 25,003~ F 30 BRITISH COLUMBIA Statistical Summary of Motor-vehicle Accidents in the Province for the Year 1975—Continued 13. LIGHT CONDITIONS 1. Daylight. 2. Darkness 3. Artificial light—good .... 4. Dark or semi-darkness . 5. Artificial light—poor —- 6. Not stated Totals .- Number of Accidents Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 5,211 260 959 3,992 2,673 267 454 1,952 485 27 101 357 499 25 95 379 155 11 31 113 76,578 * 14,695 61,880 85,601 I 593 16,335 68,673 14. Amount of property damage for period covered by this report, $87,084,593.59; amount for same period last year, $84,045,060.61. Amount of property damage this year to date, $87,084,593.59; amount for same period last year, $84,045,060.61. 15. CONDITION OF VEHICLES INVOLVED 16. DIRECTION OF TRAVEL 17. ROAD SURFACE Number of Vehicles Total 1. Apparently good 2. No chains (slippery road) 3. Brakes defective 4. Steering mechanism defective 5. Head-lights dim 6. Puncture or blow-out 7. Head-lights out (both).... 8. Tail-light out or obscured 9. Glaring head-lights 10. Head-light out (one light) 11. Other defects 12. Not stated Totals 14,286 315 125 42 16 78 16 19 8 14 92 30,828 Fatal 843 7 1 3 2 1 Personal Injury 2,515 48 33 13 3 21 1 2 1 1 12 24,594 Property Damage Only 10,928 267 85 28 10 55 14 17 6 13 72 6,231 45,839 869 27,244 17,726 1. Going straight _. 2. Turning left 3. Turning right 4. Slowing down or stopping 5. Backing (not to or from curb) 6. Skidding 7. Leaving curb (including backing) 8. Making U-turn 9. Overtaking 10. Stopping (not at curb or off paved strip) 11. Overtaking on right side _ 12. Overtaking on left side 13. Avoiding object or pedestrian 14. Not stated Totals Number of Vehicles Total Fatal 7,248 1,692 823 1,010 516 1,058 156 39 73 438 £9 164 421 32,132 613 64 28 12 9 82 2 2 9 7 6 16 6 13 Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1,483 343 108 213 25 168 11 3 20 106 9 26 78 24,651 5,152 1,285 687 785 482 808 143 34 44 325 54 122 337 7,468 45.839 869 | 27,244 17,726 Number of Accidents Total 1. Dry surface 2. Wet surface 3. Icy surface 4. Loose sand or gravel 5. Snowy surface 6. Muddy surface 7. Not stated Totals 4,770 2,258 1,065 266 640 34 76,568 Fatal Personal Injury 371 143 47 910 440 156 59 79 3 14,688 Property Damage Only 3,489 1,675 862 199 543 28 61,877 85,601 593 16,335 | ' 68,673 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 31 Statistical Summary of Motor-vehicle Accidents in the Province for the Year 1975—Continued 18. ROAD CONDITION Number of Accidents Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. Normal - ...: 2. Defect in roadway 8,167 113 73 81 40 564 76,563 572 10 1 4 4 2 1,508 25 12 15 10 77 14,688 6,087 78 60 4. Road under repair - 62 26 6. Other- 7. Not stated _._._ 487 61,873 Totals —- - - - 85,601 593 16,335 68,673 19. TYPE OF ROAD Number of Accidents Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 8,306 562 71 66 4 30 76,562 549 37 2 2 1 2 1,535 85 12 8 1 6 14-688 6,222 2. Gravel 3. Concrete 4. Earth 440 57 56 5. Brick or cobble - —- - 6. Other 7. Not stated .. .„ 3 23 61,872 Totals.. 85,601 593 | 16,335 1 68,673 20. WEATHER CONDITIONS Number of Accidents Total Fatal Personal Injury Property Damage Only 1. Clear 2. Rain _.. 3. Cloudy 5,338 1,682 1,016 126 859 14 76,566 372 100 84 8 25 2 2 976 321 212 22 111 5 14,688 3,990 1,261 720 4. Fog or mist - — — 5. Snow - - - -— - - 96 723 7 7. Not stated 61,876 Totals.:..._ 85,601 593 16,335 68,673 CONVICTIONS The receipt of notices of convictions for driving infractions under the Criminal Code (Canada), the Motor-vehicle Act, and the Motor-vehicle Act Regulations and the reports of violations of any law known as a "Traffic Rule" continued to supply information for the inclusion in the individual driving records of each licensed driver in this Province. Access to these records is available by means of the driver's licence number or by the name of the driver. The retaining of these records and the furnishing of information which is invaluable for driver control is the main duty of the Driver Licence Records Section. The control which is made possible by these records is the responsibility of the Driver Safety and Improvement Section. F 32 BRITISH COLUMBIA Convictions Under Motor-vehicle Act and Criminal Code (Canada), 1972—75 Offences Under Criminal Code (Canada) — Causing death by criminal negligence, sec. 203 — Causing injury by criminal negligence, sec. 204— Criminal negligence in operation of motor-vehicle, sec. 233 (1) Failing to stop after accident, sec. 233 (2)-— Dangerous driving, sec. 233 (4) Driving while ability impaired, sec. 234 - Breath sample not provided, sec. 235 Driving with more than 80 mgs of alcohol in blood, sec 236 Driving motor-vehicle while driver's licence under suspension, sec. 238 .... Under Motor-vehicle Act— Driving without obtaining driver's licence, sec. 18 (1, 2) Driving without subsisting motor-vehicle liability policy, sec. 18 (2a) Driving motor-vehicle otherwise than as restricted on driver's licence, sec. 18 (6-8) - - Driving without having driver's licence and liability card in possession at time, sec. 19 (as amended 1970) —- Driving while right to obtain licence is under suspension, sec. 20 - Using licence belonging to another, refusing to show licence, sec. 56 Failing to obey emergency instructions of a peace officer, sec. 124 Failing to obey traffic-control signal legend, sees. 127, 128, 152— - Failing to obey special signs re highway construction, sees. 134, 135, 137 . Careless driving, sees. 138. 139 Exceeding maximum speed limit, sec. 140 — - Exceeding speed limit passing schools and playgrounds, sec. 141 Passing stopped school bus, sec. 142 - Failure to drive on the right, sec. 143 - Infractions of "lane" driving, sees. 144-146 - Infractions of "passing" sees. 148-151, 153, 154- Infractions of turning, starting, and directional signals, sees. 155-162. Failure to yield right-of-way, 163-167- — Not exercising due care re pedestrians, sees. 168-172 .... Failure to stop at railroad crossings, sees. 174-176 - Failure to stop at intersections, sec. 177— Leaving vehicle improperly parked, sec. 182 Backing vehicle illegally, sec. 184 - Operating motor-cycle with more than one person, sec. 185 Requirements of safe driving on highway, sees. 186, 187 Fire-vehicle safety, sees. 189, 190 - _ Driving on sidewalk, sec. 191 - — - Opening-door requirements, sec. 194 - Illegal depositing of articles on highway, sec. 195 - Riding motor-cycle without safety helmet, sec. 207 ~~ - Miscellaneous - Under Motor-vehicle Act Regulations - 1972 1973 6 2 28 757 439 5,607 842 6,246 1,012 14,939 1,295 2,080 761 3,364 11 163 5 166 8 98 504 18 22 15 50 16 36 31 12 2 40 274 9 4 9 4 4 4 185 289 975 10,454 13 23 736 409 6,699 938 6,275 853 15,946 1,544 4,118 1,019 3,320 11 167 5 173 2 81 532 15 14 12 38 29 28 14 13 2 56 585 15 2 72 4 2 3 156 377 163 12,572 1974 7 1 31 564 452 7,190 914 7,254 933 17.346 1,311 2,778 882 2,587 12 202 7 185 82 501 13 11 6 32 28 26 24 19 2 47 566 2 4 8 3 5 219 311 544 10,417 3,510 1975 2 31 564 452 10,514 969 6,285 1,102 19,927 1,275 1,273 762 2,417 9 115 3 156 7 80 396 26 20 4 30 34 24 24 8 2 52 537 14 5 19 3 10 3 196 313 646 8,463" 7,335 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS Traffic Violation Reports, 1972—75 F 33 Offences 1972 1973 1974 1975 Under Motor-vehicle Act— Driving motor-vehicle otherwise than as restricted on driver's licence, sec. 18 (6-8) 30 27 25,366 554 6,787 111,443 5,725 230 1,286 4,965 5,135 3,485 4,577 1,258 309 8,294 451 1,306 6 73 27 55 38 26 14 48 29,779 579 7,998 125,545 6,456 178 1,364 5,718 5,565 3,762 5,332 1,512 240 8,544 8 53 34,201 310 9,250 148,237 6,634 223 1,539 6,156 6,230 3,795 6,009 1,448 198 8,746 17 Failing to obey emergency instructions of a peace officer, sec. 124 Failing to obey traffic-control signal legend, sees. 127, 128, 152 Failing to obey special signal signs re highway construction, sees. 134, 135, 137 79 35,949 1,752 9,100 Exceeding maximum speed limit, sec. 140 Exceeding speed limit passing schools and playgrounds, sec. 141 189,158 9,550 226 1,552 5,880 Infractions of "passing", sees. 148-151, 153, 154 Infractions of turning, starting, and directional signals, sees. 155-162 Failure to yield right-of-way, sees. 163-167 Not exercising due care re pedestrians, sees. 168-172 6,107 3,724 5,392 1,419 445 Failure to stop at intersections, sec. 177 10,592 1,212 5 10 34 84 35 9 1,533 10 60 44 93 44 U 1,678 3 Requirements of safe driving on highway, sees. 186, 187 72 29 Driving on sidewalk, sec. 191 95 39 7 181,453 10,963 204,023 4,816 234,832 9,960 282,865 Notices of Juvenile Offence, 1972 -75 Offences 1972 1973 1974 1975 Under Motor-vehicle Act— Driving without obtaining driver's licence, sec. 18 (1, 2) Driving motor-vehicle otherwise than as restricted on driver's licence, sec. 18 (6-8) 14 14 50 62 19 18 42 60 5 3 408 2' 427 2,659 153 3 53 110 183 70 165 30 4 275 5 38 26 13 29 53 4 1 687 6 735 4,341 228 4 96 152 281 112 256 31 8 418 4 77 1 4 1 3 1 5 8 11 14 29 Driving without subsisting motor-vehicle liability policy, sec. 18 (2a) Driving without having driver's licence and liability card in possession at time, sec. 19 - Using licence belonging to another, refusing to show licence, etc., sec. 56 - Failing to obey emergency instructions of a peace officer, sec. 124 17 37 2 455 4 416 2,548 148 5 55 93 148 74 151 23 4 269 2 705 Failing to obey special signal signs re highway construction, sees. 134, 135, 137 32 888 5,189 Exceeding speed limit passing schools and playgrounds, sec. 141 300 7 77 Infractions of "line" driving, sees. 144-146 177 290 Infractions of turning, starting, and directional signals, sees. 155-162 113 226 Not exercising due care re pedestrians, sees. 168-172 Failure to stop at railroad crossing, sees. 174-176 — 33 6 470 3 42 102 1 2 2 3 1 1 4 3 4 7 Illegal depositing of articles on highway, sec. 195 Riding motor-cycle without safety helmet, sec. 207 5 8 27 1 13 3 6 15 9 4,623 4,755 265 7,596 944 8,764 767 F 34 BRITISH COLUMBIA SUMMARY Offences 1972 1973 1974 1975 Criminal Code (Canada) Motor-vehicle Act — Motor-vehicle Act Regulations Traffic Violation Reports Notices of Juvenile Offence Total infractions 14,939 15,946 10,454 j 12,572 1,344 | 5,361 192,416 [204,023 4,623 4,755 17.346 10,417 14,414 19,927 8,463 13,771 234,832 1282,865 7,596 I 8,764 223,776 |242,657 |284,605 |333,790 I I I DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 35 ■s c •2 « c so s o o so t% rs s 53 50 rs s o O so SO s I so s <*1 m : f tn t- cm m : no — no : tn ft rn n NO tN rf t-h fN NO rf O fN OS —* rf fN NO i rr m fs tN r- NO rf cn tn 00 n I 00 rf r-i ii 73 m c c c 8. •r "C «> e -3 ° u =3 £ ££rt'g rt 3 c cj -sy'C sj -J ° Ha § £ s rt rt •^ -n fJ £ -n u - ? .S rt ctj — rt J U tn u J 0 M U O _ (j O : z s < z € < z ;> rt q 5 QJ •a > 0 t- ro -* rt 00 ■a o CO rt O rt IN cs in on ro on r- u ro r— NO ro S.K 5 rt NO, On 00 fN r> rt u r- CO 00 OC o tn on' ri oo" rf' o V m* «-! rf o m H a. < ft rf tn ro H — ri rt — no — on in ,_ fN O 0O ND nd m r- "rt ro o < •a < ri O -H ON no NO 41 m ON co O ri m co a D. < u S ro _: oo co ri NO !r- '57 t> OI M < PS 1 v 00 < £ cn o tn V rt tH in Cii 00 < tn ■ fN Cl < CO m ! m ro NO rf CO CO O NO tn co ro m nO rr rf ;m • O ri m u m NO ro On tr «l CO >—' rH < < ' 1 00 OO fN NO m rf oo O rr ON OO rT fH \p tn "« r- "rt t~~ r- NC N « ON m_ON rt r- vC r^os on °° in i2 r* m 0O ft rt o o H r-" —" oT tt •a u ri ON — — — r •a rt no r^ ro rT m > rt ONOO ™ ■—' ON •a 00 < rf CN m (N V *■> cn CO O rf rf _ c* CO — tn rf ON m D. o o r- rr r-l m on tn oo ■ o u oc in ft m .9 11 CO NO o M 00 "3 < tn rr 'S < ro rr m rf tn r— no r-1 o ON rf 00 -t \d tn ON -h NO f\ m S..*5i 0) 00 0\ t> (ft rf V OJ ON OO —' r-' Q 00 rt rf ro" < co T < rf ro rf ro ro re on in ro O M»0 ra oo fN ci m r- "ra ON r^ IrtT *U5-l o O ON co co NC g 00 NO oo OO H innNH no" On" oo o rs tn NC O ri CS ON 73 cn r- <1 — ro rt m — O ft I' rf rf on m m O — r- 4> ov o o r- ve *o \0 rf NO CO o i^ H > V o>c« oc OJ U NO ON r-^m ^ 0 a 5 < 00 < ro r- CJ '5? 00 < CO rf 00*" ro oo m n oo fr OS co co NO fN On m •a c r- rt (N n P- ■a rj ro NO u : c q t si 2.1 sill tr. & P- c c 1 2 H 0 a N- 1 n 1 P- 4 Q. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 41 The inspection stations found 156 vehicles to be in such a condition that they could not be allowed to return to the highway. The vehicles were condemned, their licences suspended, and they were towed away from the inspection station. The following are the causes of rejection: Causes of Rejection Code Motor-vehicle licence . Number-plates Plate-lamp - - Tail-lamps Stop-lamps Turn-signals Reflectors Horn Windshield-wipers Left window-raiser Doors, body hood Bumper, mudflaps Headlamps. Identification lamps.. Spot-lamps Fog-lam ps Auxiliary lamps Wheel alignment Steering mechanism. Tires, wheels Fuel system Exhaust, muffler Service brakes — Pedal reserve — Brake connections.... Air or vacuum Tell-tale Parking brake Visibility Driver seat-belts Miscellaneous Totals. Age 1 .014 .617 ,742 ,243 .458 ,384 916 ,049 ,229 294 639 666 ,140 ,378 744 346 988 ,824 ,483 ,956 272 ,381 ,330 ,009 ,673 389 628 ,554 ,058 326 ,348 Age 2 Age 3 1,443 1,835 8,544 3,518 5,403 6,775 741 1,592 2,711 699 1,751 1,291 20,719 834 533 694 654 4,293 11,227 9,833 392 14,282 7,826 1,393 3,424 390 956 3,720 3,619 696 1,793 90,078 | 123,581 439 1,080 4,113 2,236 3,722 4,369 395 1,160 1,511 513 2,134 901 10,794 338 152 643 165 2,169 7,723 5,266 203 7,291 3,543 1,140 2,144 145 243 1,581 1,567 511 833 ~697024~ Age 4 83 259 842 547 776 1,076 313 420 613 171 862 392 1,861 124 61 97 69 379 1,816 881 104 1,458 982 439 454 43 193 520 543 112 326 Total 3,979 4,791 19,241 8,544 14,359 15,604 2,365 4,221 6,064 1,677 5,386 3,250 48,514 2,674 1,490 1,780 1,876 10,665 27,249 23,936 971 31,412 20,691 3,981 7,695 967 2,020 8,375 8,787 1,645 5,300 16,816 ; 299,499 I Vehicle Age Code: Age 1, 1972 and later; Age 2, 1971 to 1967; Age 3, 1966 to 1962; Age 4, 1961 and earlier. Twenty-eight Authorized Fleet Inspection Stations have been established. Two of the stations inspect all types of vehicles and 26 are authorized to inspect regular (commercial) trailers only. Vehicles inspected and approved at these stations totalled 4,233. Another service provided by inspection stations is the mechanical inspection of salvaged vehicles. A total of 1,073 salvaged vehicles was inspected and those that were approved were issued a Certificate of Mechanical Condition. The average inspection takes two hours. CENTRAL REGISTRY The Superintendent of Motor-vehicles, who is also the Registrar-General, is responsible for the operation of the Central Registry. Documents are recorded and searched under the Bills of Sale Act, Conditional Sales Act, Mechanics' Lien Act, and the Assignment of Book Accounts Act. A certificate issued in respect of a grant made under the Provincial Home Acquisition Act in respect of a mobile home situated in a mobile home park is also registered in the Office of the Registrar- General. In the case of corporations, personal chattels other than motor-vehicles are recorded with the Registrar of Companies. F 42 BRITISH COLUMBIA The Central Registry accepted for registration a total of 418,444 documents during the 1975/76 fiscal year, an increase of 15,968 documents over the preceding fiscal year, while revenue totalled $1,147,496. For comparison purposes, there were 196,906 documents registered in 1965 and revenue totalled $568,903, less than half the registrations and revenue for the past fiscal year. The request for search information also shows a similar increase. In 1965 the revenue amounted to $112,777, compared to $260,823.50 in the 1975/76 fiscal year. The Central Registry administers approximately 2,500 Search Fee Accounts which may be used to obtain information from the Motor-vehicle Branch records regarding particulars concerning vehicles and driver records as well as regular lien searches. In order to cope with the increase of document registration and requests for search information, the majority of documents are microfilmed to save filing space, while all records are placed on computer. When a search request is received by either Telex, TWX, telephone, mail, or personal inquiry, the appropriate information is typed upon a computer retrieval terminal and the master file is then checked by computer. If an encumbrance is recorded, information such as document number and date of registration is printed upon the CRT screen and the proper microfilm cartridge is placed in a microfilm reader in order that the complete document may be viewed. Photocopies of documents on file are also available. At present, Central Registry has approximately one and one-half million records on computer. A statistical comparison with the 1974/75 fiscal year follows and provides a detailed report of the various activities carried out by this Registry. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 43 Statistical Comparison With Fiscal Years 1974/75 and 1975/76 (April 1 to March 31) Documents filed under— fSi Y.L Filcai Year Conditional Sales Act 92,915 87,252 Bills of Sale Act 242,691 265,116 Mechanics' Lien Act 40,054 35,565 Assignment of Book Accounts Act 1,160 1,392 Companies Act 602 697 Provincial Home Acquisition Act 2,639 2,067 Late order filing under Conditional Sales Act 3,908 4,563 Late order filing under Bills of Sale Act 12,356 14,476 Documents discharged under— Conditional Sales Act 1,408 1,293 Bills of Sale Act 2,238 2,650 Mechanics' Lien Act 2,169 2,907 Assignment of Book Accounts Act 40 72 Companies Act 191 176 Provincial Home Acquisition Act 105 218 Total documents accepted 402,476 418,444 Number of records added to file— Serial File 387,650 442,268 Alphabetical File 163,458 153,278 Total number of entries added to Central Registry records 551,108 595,546 Total value of— $ $ Documents accepted 1,093,938.00 1,147,496.00 Search fees 213,841.75 260,823.50 Photographic copying fees 5,833.75 6,668.00 Total revenue 1,313,613.50 1,414,987.50 SCHOOL BUSES Control over the use and operation of school buses engaged in the transportation of students to and from schools in the Province is the responsibility of the Superintendent of Motor-vehicles. Such control extends to the setting of minimum standards for construction and maintenance and provides for periodic inspection carried out on behalf of the Superintendent by mechanical inspectors of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Motor Carrier Branch of the Motor Carrier Commission, and senior Motor-vehicle Inspectors of the Branch. Motor-vehicle Inspectors at the five inspection stations operated by the Branch are appointed mechanical inspectors for the inspection of school buses. School buses in the Victoria area, Greater Vancouver area, and Greater Nanaimo area are inspected at the inspection station in the area or by an inspector from a station. F 44 BRITISH COLUMBIA From January 1, 1975, to March 31, 1976, the number of permits issued for vehicles to be used as school buses was 1,416 renewal permits and 295 permits for new vehicles for a total of 1,711 as compared to the 1974 calendar year figure of 1,255. Of the permits issued, 39 were cancelled as the result of the sale and transfer of vehicle or of poor mechanical condition. From January 1, 1975, to February 29, 1976, school buses were involved in 77 accidents of which 62 resulted in property damage only. Six students and 19 persons other than students were injured in 15 injury accidents. There were no fatal accidents involving school buses during this period. PERMITS FOR FLASHING RED AND AMBER LAMPS, SIRENS, AND THEFT ALARMS The Superintendent may, under the provisions of the Motor-vehicle Act Regulations, issue permits to allow a vehicle to be equipped with a flashing lamp. The regulations specify that certain emergency vehicles, tow cars, and pilot cars may be equipped without obtaining a permit. The permits are required for vehicles such as public utility vehicles which must stop on a highway to repair power or telephone lines. In each case the permit is issued where a hazard exists and only with the approval of the local enforcement agency. From January 1, 1975, to March 31, 1976, 351 permits for flashing amber lamps and 53 permits for flashing red lamps were issued. In addition, 29 permits were issued to allow installation of sirens and red flashing lamps on vehicles. These vehicles were usually ambulances or the personal vehicle of the chief of a volunteer fire department in a small community. Nine permits were issued for the installation of theft alarms in vehicles. STAFF In 1975 the staff of the Motor-vehicle Branch consisted of 598 regular established positions, while 81 persons held regular continuous positions. An in-house staff training program was established, as well as increased direction and encouragement offered to staff. The result has been increased requests for training assistance. WEIGH SCALE BRANCH This Branch has 38 truck weigh scale stations at various points throughout British Columbia, of which 34 are manned on a regular basis, augmented by 15 portable units. These weigh scale stations and portable patrols monitor commercial vehicles that are licensed in excess of 12,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. In addition to commercial vehicle monitoring, the Weighmasters issue various permits, such as non-resident, temporary operating, motive-fuel, etc., and the regular oversize and overweight permits. Another major function of the Branch is the recording and reviewing of all accidents involving commercial vehicles having a gross vehicle weight exceeding 40,000 pounds. Weigh scale operators are responsible for ensuring that the following Acts are complied with: Commercial Transport Act, Motor-vehicle Act, Motor Carrier Act, Motive-fuel Use Tax Act, and certain aspects of the Brands Act, the Forest Act, the Social Services Tax Act, and the Motor Vehicle Transport Act (Canada). During the fiscal year, new facilities were opened at Pouce Coupe, Yahk, and Prince George. These new facilities contain the latest technology in electronic DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 45 weighing, including exterior digital readout and electronically controlled directional signs. The new sites are designed in such a way that, although they have two points of entry to accommodate two-way traffic, there is only one exit, which eliminates the confusion created by a two-exit scale. Statistics show that, during the fiscal year, 1,869,950 commercial vehicles were checked by the Weigh Scale Branch. This resulted in 6,064 prosecutions and 2,275 violation notices being issued. Permit Issuance Single trip and short-term 72,00c1 Non-resident 36,875 Temporary operating 27,586 Motive-fuel (permits and (or) emblems) 13,894 Restricted route 3,536 Term oversize 450 Highway crossings 358 Term overweight 110 Total 154,809 i Approximate. F 46 BRITISH COLUMBIA TRANSPORT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT BUREAU Organized in late 1974, the Transport Planning, Research, and Development Branch comprises a range of capabilities which enables the Government to be kept abreast of the expanding knowledge involved in the variety of modes in transportation. Participation in the Federal-Provincial Committee on Western Transportation and the Western Transportation Advisory Council permits the Province to make its views known, and influence felt, relative to national transportation policy. This research and liaison function, together with the many project-oriented studies, reports, and interventions, qualifies the Branch to co-ordinate and rationalize Provincial transportation policy development on an intermodal basis. Provincial and Federal railway issues have formed an important aspect of the Branch's efforts. Liaison with the Railway Transport Committee, Canadian Transport Commission, involving issues relating to abandonments, revisions, and reconstruction of portions of CPR, CNR, and E&N Railway is an ongoing activity. Consultation with Federal and other provincial government officers continues on such issues as extra-provincial motor carriers, railway passenger rationalization, and aid to urban transportation. Project-oriented involvement includes: Transportation planning and operations analysis for feasibility of commodity development related to Northeast Coal Development. Transportation study of raw materials and finished product for the BC/NKK Steel Mill Study. The Branch also maintained a technical overview of the Federally constructed Fairview Terminal at Prince Rupert. The interests of British Columbia in the coastal shipping and inter-coastal trade provisions of the Maritime Code (Bill C-61) were concerns in Branch liaison with the Federal D.O.T. Activity continues relative to water transport services to British Columbia coastal points. Efforts to improve Provincial air services were continued. A full report, which identified problem areas and made improvement recommendations, was submitted to the Federal Minister of Transport. An expanded Federal commitment to small airport facility development is being sought in a draft Remote Access Policy. Interests of the Branch comprise Provincial and interprovincial truck regulations, freight rates, remote area access, public transit, third-level air carriers, industry-oriented transport development. The Branch is expanding to meet new challenges and to engage growing areas of concern. It is the purpose of the Branch to add to its staff expertise in the area of tariff analysis and economic evaluation. The multi-modal and inter-governmental aspects of transportation present a continuing challenge and require a constant vigil in the interests of the Province. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 47 FERRIES OPERATIONS B.C. FERRIES British Columbia Ferries was inaugurated in June 1960 to provide service between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Service is offered between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo, Horseshoe Bay and Langdale, and Horseshoe Bay and Snug Cove on Bowen Island. Also between Saltery Bay and Earls Cove on the Sechelt Peninsula, Swartz Bay and Fulford Harbour, Crofton and Vesuvius Bay on Saltspring Island. There is an Outer Gulf Island service for Pender, Saturna, Mayne, and Galiano Islands, together with a direct route to those islands from Tsawwassen. From northern Vancouver Island there are routes from Kelsey Bay to Beaver Cove, Bella Bella, and Prince Rupert. Finally, the shortest run is from Brentwood across the Saanich Inlet to Mill Bay. Major construction continued at Tsawwassen Terminal with the result there are now two new berths in use while a third, together with a breakwater on the northern approach, will shortly be completed. Upper-level ramps were constructed at both Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay terminals to assist in loading for the super vessels. The three new super ships have now joined the Dogwood Fleet with two in service on the Horseshoe Bay/Nanaimo run, and the third, the truck ferry, sailing between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. The aging Langdale Queen was retired during the year and replaced by the Queen of Tsawwassen. The Queen of New Westminster has also joined the Horseshoe Bay to Langdale route. F 48 BRITISH COLUMBIA The new MV Queen of Alberni, which entered service during 1976, carries commercial and overheight traffic between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. The MV Queen of Cowichan and her super sister, the MV Queen of Coquitlam, epitomize the economies scale in modern ferry transport with their three car decks and licensed capacity to carry more than a thousand passengers. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 49 00 rN no cN 00 00 O r>- «n fN CN — 0 O O Tf Tt O TJ VO CO CO fN 0 tt CO m Tt ND Tt O 8 O >n vn co 00 0 oc rH ^ Ov- rH t^_ O ^H CN °i rn ON^ CO CO O rn vc r— m 0 c O ,, «:" m rl 0" (N m On" OTHfloo\r^ fN CO fN rN Tt no" 00" 0" O in" n l> r~- ■ ^s, ,. ©.£> CO ! CO VO >n vC l> 8 5 « ND : Tt 0 r-1 Tt »s" q ; 1 m rN. ON fN oC NC ON Tf 4 : m Tt 00 O Tt SO CO co ON ON tn c Tt QC O 00 no co r- m co *-i r— r>Sr- O cn r^. K jd . cq co cn m r- mfn m im Tt VC 00 fN, VO^ tn \ M ^J vo so' oC 0" tN" m" Ov" «N — oor-o cn «n Tt r-" 00" ro m" w-i O" >" 5.S f £ OS, CO 00 Tt m r> NO ON IX 1 ra tfl u VD fN O rH " 1} CO vo vo 1 V§£ 3 ■5 is. 1 >> n ^ rM tj- r •J f Tf IT-, r- ' r- NC ■rt CN C >H ft 00, rn Tf^ c 0 ""J,c*") Tf cn |*N,'-;oo NC CO CO 1—1 w c >. C C c-, "* co V co" e w 0 00 r- m c 0" Tt m" ON 0" ' on" 0" cN CN 0" H "X ^j U rf r 0 T* fN." tN 0. —• .*-> M U XI Tt r— 0 O tn c ^ CN fN tn tN m m tn NO .*> 1 0 -^ 0 r- r >l CO Tt fN in »n no Tt r— CO S'O-S O fN © CO v. ? fN ON ri CC — NO CO O 0 ON *> |c > „. in" «-h vo" r-" c ^00 \0 0\0 •< ^ Tt cn t- NO in O no ON ft t-S. wo" t m tt ON t ro m vo Ov NO CO O vo T co c •<* ^h" t 3 00 01 q oc CO CO 00 vo On" Tt Tf 3 1 O O Ov fN C 3 00 ro ^H ,_| m no m m Tt *», 0 rfl cn r> 0 r- c O fN Tf l> vr, CO NO CN tN ON "O 0 a*^ 3 js ^ I\ t CO vj 0 (N ON — eo co O r~- m tn 0 3 c a „. vo" r-" co" 0" c *** fN ro f- tt 0 -", ro Tt 00 ON — 00 *o C O a> 0.2 5 (fl ? 0 ON Tt m tN — 0 m O T> •n 3 Sr > *5J (S1 v-> rs c 5 r-. ^m CO Tt — rH CN ON ON On oMM ~ * W rH f 4T tN fN ^ 0 t^1 •^ ra « u « O 03 1 "O m on 0 r- 11 0 cn cn VC Tt On On r- ON O ON «2 Ji c ON fN m fN c 0 NO Tt S Tt vO O :ON m cn on l> r- O S «tS BO Jj 2ST3 « Ov no^ >n 00 c H.P 0 tn co^ in r~ °°> <^T 3 c a VO" —" vo" tt" ! C w tj- ro r- Tr c rT O 00 ON ON 00" ON — 00 cc* on" ^ com — r- On s NO to OvOr-HC ' CN C 0 m 0 Tf" fH rH so CO vq rn" §*1 ■§ 1 a n S Sue a cj ca 8 0 O O On m t t "rt ON m t— CN vc — vc g tv. 0 -t 00 on r g «n Tt O CN OMt- oc 00 £ ft^ 2 -vt t" c "* ON O NO NO C 1 CO VO S -^Tt in 0 no" t> ON CN ON tn" m" on" 00 NO CO 0. « ii 0 ca c sffll 1 Tt Tf CO ft OfNr- vC u " S rN cn rs r- u ro Tt" cn" < <"H f 1 VlON v) TT O m Tt CN ON — CO 00 vo" tN Er K a 1 >>c r-i r— — m k 0 ON O 0. T vo cN m in ON VO 5 ra (« ro rs co On c 0 ON 00 r- vC —i CN [- t> CC 00 CO fa O no O >n c -I c— cn Tt Tt v6 vc Ov 0 § 1-S a* j, O t- tj rn U *^ m Tt tN no 8 u S 0 3 cj <« SoS *-. « na 0 -w &a 2 « "ca SI eg 0 0 s fe •o i 1 *9 O 1 ^ « C cj S 0 u 0 u c c •a e —, ca ca ej h 5 cj "5 4) ^ 4) fi * i •a S S1 " ! * £ u to c vU a _J "rt co E .S V — c rt C ci 0 •' 3 c 1/) rt 0 O a> 3 B u u ■0 5S« 5 .9 B III _ !s « 5 a> u_ rfl O C — rt 1- 01 8 * S ^^ E ill 1Mb a | rt « 0 "5 C C - D ^ — (U 3 > _, ■o c 9 S ■§ c .3 u *- rt rt ra -j "j m s i 0 0 S ■— B = £H ■nraHHS«tf5HH^ h ci co a ca u 2 •- « a> e — « 3 ■ 0 CJj F 50 BRITISH COLUMBIA Tt CO — t— Tt m cn © oo — rn © m tn On ' -t in Tt cn oo On. CO fN CO On cj — <3 BS> o 2: r.r^rjtfimcocococOTrm^ cODOMHninfflmonnH «oo*D(sn\ow»oavvia\co otNr- — oinr~oowioor~o o.,^cON^i^ofl\ocomo ct. — o*CTj-^-rfr-cnminci o^cCTtarinowcom coortO\"«f(*H-.nN \OVOOOrtOOOfNOOOOC3\TtO ^O^TOO — OvOt C t ^ ^hNr^^Hcc^oNnco o«Tf*fTrv^Tt\oc*rcn m tt Ncooonaco«\eNt^NOco m' m cj." ^O m ov" —' vd o\ N ^1 — mcco\n«»cs- 00 — rj« >> 5- ca w cc 03 3 "O ca oc n a c t «J ca i 1 I ^ ca ca ctacd l%% a as. SC0 W CJ CJ » q - 3 £ B.O " A, A.6 ca ca B3P3 J 3- (5 S3 u I a so g SSI a O.032 « <3> 00 .. vU VU >■ >N "O "li its w t/3 > ,, - * —. o rt CQ CQ o >>>.:* Cj rj -; (fl M C DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 51 COASTAL FERRIES During the fiscal year 1975/76 a fleet of 11 ferries coming under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transport and Communications, with day-to-day management by the Department of Highways, provided a ferry service on 10 saltwater routes. In addition, the Queen of the Islands was borrowed from B.C. Ferries for service on the Comox-Powell River run during the summer season. The fleet carried 789,046 vehicles and 2,343,369 passengers. All ferries were inspected during the year and repairs effected where necessary. In addition, the ferries were all drydocked and overhauled, and relief ferries provided interim service wherever possible. Coastal Ferry Revenue, 1975/76 $ Comox-Powell River 637,392.02 Cortes Island 68,887.55 Denman Island 55,118.20 Gabriola Island 151,223.90 Hornby Island 20,791.20 Nimpkish 142,005.50 Quathisaki Cove 167,227.20 Queen Charlotte Islands1 30,782.25 Texada Island 161,597.70 Thetis Island 26,879.60 Woodfibre 9,823.00 1,471,728.12 i Commenced September 1975. F 52 BRITISH COLUMBIA <3 O CJ "3 T* m ON NO VC r- o Tt On VD aj.S ©TtONinTtoooNi—'cnoooo Tt C^NOCNinTtTtON oc> on © r- © 0£h ©©m oo cc tN — in co m" ro" ON [^ cj ca r-fNCNinmm©fNinro OO >u rH rn fN c- -a z> S3 ! m vn — Tt CO CO VD Sou co — "n vo m tN m ON tn S=> U Ifl ONr-r-r-voo\r»or^roTt vo — fNCN — — ONOm — — vo CO no — cn Tt cN cn in — r- Tt 1 ©NOfNNOoOTtoinr-fN ; ONinr-cNfNNONOONr-Tt | O 4> co — m — fN Tt vo^ 0 3 S* sis — ©NOmo©mNO©ON© CO U CJ QJ co r- — r- r- — cn — r- on — r-coND — — Tt — Tt—1 ©_ tn H5 CN vc CN CO " ^™* (fl oo fclj-rj u. B 3 « TtmONvnoovoccmoooTt O ©mvooomTtcorN©Tt© Tt NOfNTtr-fNmTtmONr-r~- ©^ ©ooinTtr-r~-NC 00 — co Tt m —" in* On Tt" ©* —" m fN fN tN r- Tt — — TtinmmrNmm CN vo a. 'C On © — vc co cn r- on © — t r- H nd Tt m tr On Tt SO On ro ro Tt (N c 3 co — no tr t— m On vc vC t~~ f- CO — fNvOmTtCNmCNromcN fN t O OS V ■o c u ra OJ > ~7> s c flj "cj -c 0 « Of £ O c I B c a £ c -a CC ra c M ,£ ra ~- 11 c c tr IS 1 rt 5 3 5 c D | ■a 2 3 c h o c a. ca o .- 3 3 ■ X vJ C c C C 1 z c 'C 'tr 1? DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 53 COMMUNICATIONS There are three branches in the Communications Division—Computer and Consulting Services, System Development and Regulation, and Telecommunications Services. COMPUTER AND CONSULTING SERVICES BRANCH This Branch provides a variety of management support services to Government departments, agencies, boards, and commissions. Responsibilities include ongoing provision of data entry services and computer time; analysis, design, programming, and implementation of computer projects; management consulting assistance on organization, systems, procedures, project planning, work study, and methods analysis; consulting assistance on technical aspects of computer operations such as communications, information storage, and retrieval. OPERATIONS DIVISION During the period under report, this Division increased productivity substantially by replacing key-punches with two major data entry key to disc to tape systems. This increase helped to offset a steady reduction in data entry staff numbers. The two systems were 32 Keyboard Univac CADE (Computer Assisted Data Entry) systems. Usage increased on all computer systems, with service to users every day of the year—24 hours per day on normal workdays and 16 hours per day on weekends and statutory holidays. There was a noticeable swing to terminal use by clients, providing improved service to these clients and necessitating changes to many operating procedures. INTERNAL SERVICES DIVISION Since the last Annual Report this Division has (1) completed the tendering, evaluation, and selection process for a variety of computer terminals located in various Government offices in Victoria, Vancouver, and other parts of the Province; these terminals are used by client departments to send information directly to computers in the Operations Division and in return receive information from the computer either in the form of a visual display or printed output; (2) made arrangements for and presented educational courses to users from most client departments on terminal use, techniques used in storing, and the retrieving of large files of information and other computer-related subjects; (3) provided ongoing technical advice on the above subject to most client departments. SYSTEMS AND PROGRAMMING DIVISION Work continued on the following major projects during the fiscal year: (1) An emergency health services radio network. (2) Major environmental projects for the Water Resources Service. (3) Computerization of Cancer Control Agency cytology records. F 54 BRITISH COLUMBIA (4) Computerization of many separate and differing systems for the Division of Vital Statistics. Projects were completed for the Liquor Administration Branch, the Superannuation Branch, and the Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources. MANAGEMENT CONSULTING DIVISION Major projects included (1) implementing a work-load reporting procedure for the Department of Consumer Services; (2) recommending changes in the role of the Central Microfilm Bureau; (3) designing and implementing procedural changes in the Personnel Office of the Department of Lands, Forests, and Water Resources; (4) designing and implementing procedural and organizational changes in the Personnel and Finance and Administration offices of the Department of the Attorney-General; (5) implementing the social assistance payment system in Vancouver Resources Board of the Department of Human Resources; (6) designing and implementing a computerized student referral system for the Department of Labour's student summer employment program; (7) implementing the computerizing of apprenticeship records for the Department of Labour. Other work included (1) continuing to assist the Rent Review Commission; (2) assisting the court services unit of the Attorney-General's Department with procedural and organization matters; (3) starting a major review of court reporting and court recording practices and alternatives for the Department of the Attorney-General; (4) assisting the Legal Services Commission in establishing its budgeting and accounting functions; (5) assisting the Public Service Commission in developing procedures for the Management Exempt Group Benefits Plan. SPECIAL PROJECTS DIVISION This Division has been actively involved in systems development for the Premier's Office, Department of Transport and Communications, and the Municipal Affairs Department. Significant projects completed: (1) Established a computerized mail list system for all departments of Government. (2) Implemented expanded on-line Central Registry lien inquiry system. (3) Implemented on-line terminal inquiry system for ferries' information.. (4) Transferred complete control of vehicle file operation to ICBC. (5) Assumed total responsibility from the Motor-vehicle Branch and ICBC for operation of the Driver Records system. In addition, all staff within the Division received the required training in information storage and retrieval techniques and computer/communications concepts. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 55 At fiscal year-end the Division was developing the following major projects: (1) Computerized motor carrier licensing system. (2) Computerized record-keeping and statistical analysis of municipal debt for Department of Municipal Affairs. (3) A new system for recording and statistically analysing motor-vehicle accidents. (4) Automated processes for reporting and recording B.C. Ferries Service revenue. SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION BRANCH The function of the System Development and Regulation Branch is to promote the orderly development of communications appropriate to the needs of all sectors of the British Columbia public, and to see that the quality is adequate and the price reasonable. Responsibilities include development of policy recommendations, the administration of programs to facilitate the effective use of communications systems, and the study of technological evolution as well as that of initiatives taken by other agencies in order to determine the probable impacts of these on the Province. This Branch is also the focal point for comments, complaints, and concerns regarding communications addressed to the Government by the British Columbia public. During the year, this Branch participated in an inter-departmental committee examining the prospects of developing coal deposits in the northeast region of the Province. Since the area is remote from existing settlements, services of all kinds would be required to support the population which would establish there as a consequence of the mining activity. Radio, television, and telephone service are essential to a modern community, and the contribution of this Branch has been directed toward identifying the various types of these communications services which would be required, determining means of furnishing them, and estimating the costs involved. With a view to extending coverage of radio and television, particularly in the more remote areas, meetings were held with Telesat Canada to discuss possibilities for more extensive usage of satellite channels and development of low-cost earth receiving-stations. In the same vein, meetings were held with officials of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in connection with its Accelerated Coverage Plan under which special attention is being given to provide radio and television reception to communities of over 500 people which are not at present served. A series of changes at the ministerial level in the Federal Department of Communications, and a protracted delay in the introduction of Federal legislation which was anticipated to have a major effect on national communications policy, contributed to a sharp decline in discussions on communications policy matters between the provinces, as well as between the provinces and the Federal Government. Continuity of relations between the provinces was also affected during the year by the change in ministers responsible for communications in many of the provinces, and it is now expected that attention will again be directed toward the role of the provinces vis-a-vis the Federal Government respecting different aspects of communications and mechanisms for consultation and participation. A sum of money was included in the Department's budget for assisting communications development. Priorities for a project took into account local support, remoteness from alternative services, and the indicated financial viability. A grant was made to Sandspit and District Television Society for rehabilitation of a rebroad- F 56 BRITISH COLUMBIA cast transmitter to provide an acceptable quality of television reception to approximately 1,500 people at Sandspit, Queen Charlotte City, and Skidegate. A sharp curtailment in Government expenditures imposed in the latter half of 1975 caused deferment of action on any other request for assistance. The Department of Communications, Ottawa, has been spearheading a drive to foster competition in the furnishing of telephone system terminal devices, such as message recorders. In the past, the telephone companies have been very restrictive in allowing "foreign attachments" (i.e., those which the utility does not supply) and have, as a minimum, required subscribers to rent an additional coupler unit from the telephone company to protect the utility's system from a terminal device made by an outside manufacturer. The Federal department's initial objective was to eliminate the requirement for a coupler by introducing a program of standardization and certification, and so encourage free competition in the supply of a number of devices. While the change is attractive from some points of view, it raises important questions as to maintenance responsibility, uniformity of service offerings in more remote, as compared to large urban areas, and potentially could upset the balance between business and residential rates to the ultimate disadvantage of the basic residential subscriber. Members of this Branch have participated with opposite numbers from other provinces to focus attention on possible dangers to be avoided when designing the program. Some satisfaction can be taken from a decision of the Canadian Radio- television and Telecommunications Commission rejecting a proposal to adopt a rate-adjustment formula. Had the proposal been accepted, telephone companies under Federal regulation, such as B.C. Telephone Company, would have been permitted to increase their rates according to their increases in costs without explicit examination by the regulatory body, or the opportunity for public hearing. This Branch developed and submitted a position paper on behalf of the Province strongly opposing the adoption of a rate-adjustment formula. This paper, together with submissions from two other provinces, evidently influenced the Commission's decision. The year 1975 set a precedent in that two public hearings dealing with increased rates for B.C. Telephone Company were held. The first, in June, was confined to the question of urgent financial need for an interim increase averaging 10 per cent. The second was in September, and dealt with issues arising from the application as a whole, and approval of the remainder of the average 20-per-cent increase originally requested. It was the responsibility of this Branch to ensure that all relevant aspects of the company's request for higher rates were questioned at the public hearing. It is to be noted that in recent years the burden of intervention in B.C. Telephone rate cases has been left almost entirely to the Provincial Government. Appearances, or even attendance at the hearings, by organizations or interested members of the public are the exception rather than the rule. This Branch also provides staff support on telecommunications matters to the Motor Carrier Commission, which is responsible for the regulation of telecommunications utilities under Provincial jurisdiction. During the year, when it was known that Okanagan Telephone Company would be applying for a major rate increase, an extensive inquiry into the property and operations of the company was started, using outside consultants. Other tariff revision applications and subscriber complaints during the year were processed by Branch staff. Introduction of the Federal Government's Anti-Inflation Program had important implications for telecommunications businesses both with Federal and Provincial jurisdictions. Intensive study was required during the early weeks after DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 57 October 14, 1975, to determine what the effects would be. Later, as the legislation was amended and regulations were published, it became clear that application of the Anti-Inflation Guidelines with respect to the pricing structure of utilities devolves upon the utility regulatory body, not the Anti-Inflation Board. The Branch has therefore to interpret the guidelines both in its role as intervener before the Federal regulatory body and as adviser to the Motor Carrier Commission. Having personnel experienced in utility regulation, the Branch was also called upon during the year by the Transport arm of the Department to study and make recommendations on applications for oil pipeline carrier rate increases by West- coast Petroleum Ltd. and Pacific Petroleums Ltd. TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES BRANCH This Branch is responsible for the provision, maintenance, and operation of nearly all telecommunications services required by Provincial Government departments and some agencies, with the two exceptions of the radio systems operated by the Department of Highways and the Forest Service. The major activities of the Branch are concerned with telephone, radio, data communications, and various types of auxiliary services involving local communications systems. The necessity for restraint in expenditures resulted in some slow-down for a number of projects under way prior to the beginning of the year. Examples of such projects are the mobile radio systems planned on a co-ordinated basis for the Ambulance Service, the Sheriff's Service, and others; the development of a comprehensive Provincial Telephone Directory; a co-ordinated control system for audio and visual effects in the Provincial Museum; video recording and transmission of legislative sessions; assistance in the provision of emergency telephone reporting systems for municipalities; and assistance in the development of various audio/ visual communications systems throughout the Province. The Telephone Systems Division and the two Telephone Operations Divisions experience continued activity at a high level and were affected by the generally lower personnel levels resulting from staggered working-hours and restricted employment. In many instances a reduction of staff in an office necessitated an extra-cost improvement in the telephone system in that office to assist the remaining staff to do their work. Continued expansion of the inter-city network was required, both in the number of lines and centres served, in order that long delays and excessive overflow long-distance calling could be reduced. As in the past, decisions concerning telephone installations were based on absolute necessity or maximum over-all cost-effectiveness, rather than convenience or modernization for its own sake. The principal radio activity was concerned with various land mobile systems for several departments and agencies on a reduced scale because of budget restraints. Progress is being made on a radio paging system which will permit major economies in the employment of ambulance personnel. A study was initiated for the improvement of long-range radio communications for the Air Services Branch to assist in air ambulance function. In the Data Communications Division, continued progress was made in the development of the Province-wide teletype network using both Telex and TWX systems. At the end of the fiscal year there were 47 teleprinter locations providing general access and the network was processing an average of over 16,000 words a day. There was also a major increase in the number of remote computer terminals, each of which involved a specialized telecommunications link. F 58 BRITISH COLUMBIA The Branch continued to provide many services in the category of auxiliary communications. These included numerous radio paging services and systems, office intercommunications, sound systems, video and cable TV services and systems, and telephone-answering systems. A continuing project was the study of costs and feasibility of a telephone emergency reporting system for municipalities. Such a system, using the digits 911, was installed in the City of Vancouver, but a detailed study iri the Regional District of East Kootenay by this Branch and the B.C. Telephone Company indicated that the telecommunications costs in a semi-rural area could be prohibitive. Means of reducing costs to municipalities is the subject of continuing study and discussion. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS F 59 ADMINISTRATION FINANCE HOW THE TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS DOLLAR IS SPENT Fiscal Year 1975/76 80.56 % 52?< 1. General Administration, Engineering Branch, and Planning and Research Bureau. 2. Weigh Scale Branch. 3. Motor-vehicle Branch. 4. Motor Carrier Branch and Commission. 5. Computer and Consulting Services Branch. 6. Telecommunications Services Branch and System Development and Regulation Branch. 7. B.C. Ferries Service (including minor coastal ferries). 8. Air Services Branch. F 60 BRITISH COLUMBIA Summary of Expenditures, Fiscal Year 1975/76 Vote $ 250—Minister's Office 119,164 251—Administration 536,908 252—Engineering Branch 386,659 253—Weigh Scale Branch 2,290,082 254—Motor-vehicle Branch 9,799,952 255—Motor Carrier Branch _ 645,988 256—Computer and Consulting Service 4,751,880 257—Communications Branch 7,678,267 258—B.C. Ferries 97,366,843 259—Motor Carrier Commission 187,077 260—Air Services 1,649,313 261—Transport Planning and Research Bureau 278,842 125,690,975 Bill (No. 23)—Special Fund Appropriation Act, 1975, chapter 72 20,000,000 145,690,975 PERSONNEL SERVICES Restraints placed on initial and replacement hiring in early 1975 resulted in a significant decrease in recruitment activity over the previous year, with only 21 established positions processed and the majority of these filled on a temporary limited basis. Despite a cutback in funds by the Department of Labour under the summer Work-in-Government Program (W.I.G.), this program continued to account for a large percentage of the Department's short-term hiring program. Predominant among changes in the area of established positions was the creation of a position of Operations Manager in the Air Services Branch, and the appointment of a new Deputy Superintendent of Motor-vehicles. Department personnel officers and line management staff on the management team spent considerable time during the year in negotiations for the Engineering, Technical and Inspectional, the Environment, Resource and Conservation, and the Administrative Fiscal and Regulatory Component Agreements. In the area of employee grievances there was a significant decrease in the number initiated, due in part to greater staff knowledge of terms and limitations of the respective contracts, and the fact that conflicting interpretations (the basis of many initial grievances) have now been clarified. Out of the number of grievances processed, only two were carried to the ultimate level of procedure prior to settlement. Printed by K. M. MacDonald, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1977 1,230-177-4300