Pedestrian improvements make Nanaimo safer -September 23

Recent upgrades along Bowen Road in Nanaimo are making roads safer for pedestrians and other road users. ICBC and the City of Nanaimo have partnered to accomplish significant improvements at the intersection of Bowen Road and Pine Road as well as at Bowen Road and Wakesiah Road. Both are part of ICBC's Road Improvement Program as well as the Nanaimo Safer City Initiative.

“Pedestrians are our most vulnerable road users and these two projects are examples of what kind of improvements can be achieved when we work together to make road safety a community responsibility,” says Nanaimo Mayor, Gary Korpin.

The Safer City Initiative is an ongoing project that aims to improve road safety using the tactics of Education, Engineering and Enforcement. City staff identified the two intersections as candidates for upgrades following a comprehensive evaluation using ICBC collision data.

ICBC contributed $13,000.00 towards the $28,000.00 project. “We all benefit from safer roads,” says ICBC Community Manager for Nanaimo, Pat Ahern. “Fewer crashes mean fewer claims from injuries and damaged vehicles. So road safety upgrades are an investment for ICBC not a cost.”

Come learn more about these road improvements and the ongoing Safer City Initiative

When: Friday September 23rd at 10:30 am

Where: The intersection of Bowen and Pine Roads in Nanaimo

Who: Mayor Gary Korpin, City of Nanaimo Engineers, ICBC representatives and local police will be on hand for photo opportunities and to provide more information

For more information contact:
Nina Moroso
Ph: (250)414-7883

Comox Hospital Zone made safer for pedestrians -September 23

Sidewalk installation and improved signage around St. Joseph's General Hospital is making it safer for pedestrians to travel on foot in the area.

“Pedestrian safety is something everyone should be aware of and take responsibility for,” says Ash Megalli, ICBC's Community Manager for Comox. “By working together, we can make roads safer for all road users.”

Last year over 320 pedestrians were hurt or killed on Vancouver Island.

Please join Mayor Jim Brass, Ash Megalli and others on September, 19th for a brief presentation and photo opportunity.

Where: 2100 Block of Comox Avenue outside St. Joseph's General Hospital

When: 3:00pm

Why: To promote pedestrian safety awareness in Comox and the Comox Valley

For more information contact:
Nina Moroso
Ph: (250)414-7883

North Cowichan makes road safer for pedestrians -September 23

The Municipality of North Cowichan has made significant road improvements and installed pedestrian sidewalks along Howard Road in the Beverly Road area.

“With two of our schools nearby, this is a major route for students,” says North Cowichan Mayor, Jon Lefebure. “The new sidewalk is one tactic to make roads safer and encourage pedestrian travel for all our citizens.”

Please join us Monday September 26th for information about this recent road improvement and to learn about pedestrian safety issues. Guests and speakers will include Mayor Jon Lefebure, local RCMP, and ICBC's Community Manager for North Cowichan, Paul McNicholls.

Where: Howard Road near Beverly Road

When: Monday September 26th at 10:30

Why: To learn how The Municiplaity of North Cowichan is working to make roads safer

For more information contact:
Nina Moroso
Ph: (250)414-7883

ICBC investigation leads to guilty plea -September 2

Local resident guilty of providing false information

A Port Coquitlam resident involved in a hit and run collision has pleaded guilty to charges of providing false statements to ICBC.

Jenny Marie Ewen pleaded guilty on July 18, 2005 to charges under the Insurance Motor Vehicle Act and was fined $2,000 plus a $300 victim surcharge fee.

“ICBC has a zero tolerance policy for claims based on false information,” said Mark Withenshaw, ICBC vice president of loss management. “This is not a victimless crime. The cost of fraudulent claims is paid by honest customers in the form of higher premiums.”

Ewen was alleged to have been driving with a passenger in Port Coquitlam when she struck a parked vehicle. Although she and her passenger had some injuries, they left the scene and abandoned Ewen's vehicle a short distance from the crash. It is alleged that Ewen later arranged for another friend to provide statements to police and ICBC that she, not Ewen, had been the driver at time of the crash. Ewen and her passenger then made claims to ICBC for their injuries.

A subsequent investigation was alleged to have determined that Ewen had been the driver at the time of the crash. Both injury claims were denied and Ewen paid ICBC for the claim costs paid for the damaged vehicles, estimated at approx. $10,000.

B.C. motorists saved more than $70 million in 2004 thanks to ICBC anti-fraud programs, according to year-end figures. The figure is based on the estimated value of fraudulent claims which were denied, money recovered and savings generated through fraud prevention.

Anyone with information on a suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claim is encouraged to phone the ICBC Tips Line at 604-661-6844.

For more information contact:
Doug Henderson - Sr Media Rel Advisor
Ph: (604) 982-1332

Bright yellow signs remind drivers to slow down in school zones -September 1

An innovative lawn sign campaign sponsored by your local Autoplan broker means the chances of children getting to school safely this fall are brighter than ever.

Twelve thousand bright yellow signs were distributed to 1,500 elementary schools throughout the province. The highly visible signs are a timely reminder to drivers that summer is over and school zone speed limits are back in effect.

“There will be a lot of children on the streets heading back to school and they tend to get excited and forget their road safety rules so it's up to drivers to pay extra attention and do what's necessary to ensure their safety,” says Peggy McGregor, an Autoplan Broker with Alder Insurance in Parksville. “This is the second consecutive year Autoplan brokers have sponsored the lawn sign campaign and it was so successful last year that we're delighted to support it again.”

When school is in session, motorists driving in school zones may go no faster than 30 km/h between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. The law also requires drivers to stop for school buses when their red lights are flashing.

It's important to note that when a vehicle is traveling at 30 km/h, it takes 13 metres to come to a stop, but more than double that distance - 27 metres - when it's traveling at 50 km/h. In addition, most children assume cars can stop instantly and, until the age of eight, it's difficult for a child to even assess whether a vehicle is moving or not.

In an effort to further educate children and their parents about pedestrian safety, the Autoplan brokers have produced a colouring sheet called Back to the School Zone, which also includes valuable information, and safety tips.

Local Autoplan brokers sponsor the colouring sheet and lawn sign campaign through their involvement in the Autoplan Broker Road Safety Program, which is dedicated to making roads safer by helping fund and promote road safety initiatives throughout BC. For more information on the program, please visit your local Autoplan broker or click on www.roadsafety.ca.

For more information contact:
Nina Moroso - Communications, Vancouver Island
Ph: (250) 414-7883

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