March 2009 news releases

ICBC news releases

How much did the Porsche Boxster cost? — March 31
The top 10 collector cars in British Columbia — March 30
Vancouver man tries to bribe road test examiner — March 24
Court orders ICBC fraudster to repay fire department — March 17
ICBC to lower rates in 2009 — March 10
Frequently Asked Questions 2009 Insurance Rates — March 10
ICBC 2008 year end results — March 10
ICBC's Statement of Operations for 2008 — March 10
ICBC marks 20th anniversary in making BC roads safer — March 9
ICBC urges drivers to be extra-cautious next week following Daylight Savings Time adjustment — March 5

Provincial Government news releases

B.C. sets fine amount for second-hand smoke in vehicles — Mar 18
Better cameras to monitor more high-crash sites — Mar 6
  [Video clip & photos]

How much did the Porsche Boxster cost? — March 31

Court upholds ICBC's decision not to pay out to driver who lied

The BC Supreme Court ruled against a Vancouver man who tried to inflate the value of his allegedly stolen car in a report to ICBC.

In this case, a judge ruled that Jasbir Singh Chahal of Vancouver, aged 30, made misrepresentations about his claim and upheld ICBC's decision not to compensate Chahal for the loss of his 2000 Porsche Boxster.

Chahal paid $38,000 for the car in November 2004, but declared the value to be $25,000 on the transfer tax form. In August 2005 he reported the Boxster stolen from the parking lot of a Delta pub, and in his report to ICBC he claimed he had paid $44,000 for the vehicle. ICBC's Special Investigations Unit conducted a further analysis which uncovered numerous inconsistencies between Chahal's statement and that of the vehicle's former owner.

The man who sold the car to Chahal testified in BC Supreme Court in New Westminster that the Boxster was equipped with an immobilizer anti-theft system and could not be started without a coded operating key. He also testified that he supplied Chahal with more than one operating key; a claim Chahal denied at trial. Expert technicians also testified the Boxster would have to be moved either by using an operating key or by being towed, and so would have been virtually impossible to steal.

In its decision, handed down in December, Mr. Justice Crawford ruled Chahal made misstatements about his stolen vehicle claim, in that he lied about the vehicle's purchase price and also about the number of operating keys he had been given, and upheld ICBC's decision not to compensate Chahal for the car. The court also awarded ICBC its legal costs for this case.

"Trying to defraud ICBC has serious consequences", said Steven Tripp, manager of ICBC's Special Investigation Unit. "This ruling confirms that it is important to be fully truthful when presenting a claim to ICBC. After all, those customers who exaggerate or present false claims threaten our ability to provide low and stable rates for all our customers."

ICBC estimates fraud and exaggeration costs each of ICBC's 3.1 million customers in the range of $100 to $150 per year. ICBC is committed to protecting customers from fraud, because attempts to defraud ICBC amount to theft from customers.

March is National Fraud Prevention Month in Canada, and ICBC is marking it by helping customers and the public to recognize, report and stop fraud. The public can help combat fraud and help keep their auto insurance premiums low and stable. You can do your part by reporting suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claims to ICBC's fraud tips line (604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844). Tip information is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adam Grossman
(604) 982-1332

The top 10 collector cars in British Columbia — March 30

Ford Mustang tops ICBC's list ahead of Vancouver International Auto Show

Spring is officially here and B.C. collector-plated vehicles are yawning and waking from their winter storage locations. Dust covers will come off, fluids will be checked and replenished, and some air will be added to sagging tyres in preparation for that first spin of the collector car season.

British Columbia has to be one of the best places in Canada to own and enjoy a collector vehicle, be it a two-wheel or four-wheel vehicle. And with the Vancouver International Auto Show just around the corner, here are the top 10 collector cars in B.C., according to active insurance policies with ICBC:

• Ford Mustang: The Mustang galloped out of the stable into history. Before the first year of production had ended, more than 126,000 had sold. The concept of an inexpensive sports car was the brainchild of a young and energetic vice president, Lee Iacocca. The Mustang coupé and convertible had such an extensive option list; there was a model for everyone - mothers, husbands, daughters, sons, even some young-at-heart grandparents. It has experienced an uninterrupted production run of 45 years.

• Chevrolet Corvette: Returning GI's were importing Jaguars, MGs and Alfa Romeos when they returned from WWII. Harley Earl convinced the board at General Motors that it was time to build a two-seat sports car. That sports car was the Corvette; today it is known as America's native sports car. The first Corvettes off the production line were all painted white and fitted with a red interior, this was done to keep the cost down to $3,000. The Corvette came alive when a Soviet émigré, Zora Arkus-Duntov, took a 283-cid V-8 engine and a four-speed transmission and dropped it into the Corvette, making it a serious competitor to the Ford Thunderbird.

• Camaro/Firebird: General Motors motivation for building the Camaro and Firebird was, without question, to compete with the Ford Mustang. The Camaro which was code-named Panther came first, reaching showrooms in September of 1966, soon followed by the Firebird. Other than the obvious external design differences, the Firebird used a Pontiac specific engine. The Pontiac name is scheduled to be dropped, which will place it in the history books. The last Firebird was built in 2003. The Camaro was discontinued in 2002, but will be reintroduced for 2010 model year.

• Mercedes-Benz: The unmistakable three-pointed star logo dates back to 1910 when the company was know as Daimler-Benz. The star symbolizes Daimler's ambition of universal motorization. On land, on water and in the air. The 300SL Gullwing is the most sought-after model, with less than 1,400 Coupés and 1,838 roadsters built between 1954 and 1963. The 190 SL was the replacement model sports car, it looked like a smaller version of the 300SL. The most popular models recognized today would be the 230, 250 and 280SL Pagoda cars built between 1963 and 1971. They were referred to as the pagoda cars because of the concave shape of their removable hard top roof.

• MG: Or should that be M.G.- Early advertising literature in England called these automobiles "M.G." In North America they were simply MG. The MG Midget TC, even though looking rather dated, was very popular with GIs returning from Europe - the early cars that they imported were all right-hand drive. The MGA was the first modern MG sports car to invade North America, followed by the MGB which was the largest single model sports car to ever come out of the U.K., totalling 512,000 units. The new Chinese owners of the company have stated that they want their consumers to know this brand as something new - "Modern Gentleman," representing grace and style.

• Triumph: The Triumph TR2 was a brave attempt at building a sports car specifically for the North American market by a company that was almost unknown in North America, with no proven track record. The TR tale played out like a fairy story with a full range of TR models, from the TR2 up to the TR8. Many consider the TR6 as the last of the man's man sports cars to come out of the UK. They were reminiscent of the Austin-Healy 3000, a bit of a handful to drive with a magnificent throaty exhaust note from the straight six-cylinder engine. The TR7 & TR8 that followed did not have such a loyal following.

• Cadillac: The first Cadillac to bear the Eldorado name was in 1953 - it was considered the ultimate luxury car in America, costing five times as much as a Chevrolet with a price tag exceeding $7,000. The 1959 Cadillac sums up America in the '50s. It was more than a car, it was a styling icon built during an era when America was obsessed with rockets and space travel. By the mid '60s, finless rear wings appeared on longer and lower Cadillac's. In 1967 Cadillac broke away from the traditional rear wheel-drive model and launched the front wheel-drive Eldorado Coupé. The Cadillac models built for 30 years after WWII were considered the standard of North American luxury.

• Jaguar: Jaguar cars have a long history of elegance and sporting performance, synonymous with the British upper class. Jaguar incorporated a company in New York in 1954 and began exporting cars to North America. The popularity of the XK120 to the XK150 sports car range spilled over into the '60s. Jaguar benefited from the popularity of all things British, which was often referred to as the "British Invasion". The E-Type, or XKE as it was known in North America, leaped as a Jaguar would onto the sports car stage in 1961. By the time production ceased in 1974, the E-Type had become one of the most important sports cars of the 20th century.

• Tri-Five Chevrolets: The Tri-Five Chevrolets 1955, '56 & '57 represent a turning point in American automobile history - what many believe to be the golden age of Chevrolet and it's assault on a new, growing youth market. With Chevrolets- new 265-cid V-8 engine (soon to be the legendary small-block V-8) Chevrolets were no longer considered an old mans car. In 1957, Chevrolet bored the engine out to 283-cid and also offered Ramjet-Fuel-Injection. The body style and size changed dramatically in 1958, leaving the younger generation to scour used car lots for the popular '55 to '57 power-packed cars.

• A Multitude of Hot Rods: The original Hot Rod was an older car, typically a Model T, Model A, and the ultimate flat-head V-8 Model B. These cars were modified to reduce the weight and improve aerodynamics. During the 1950s, the term Hot Rod was sometimes used in a derogatory context, blanketing any car that did not fit into the mainstream. The lure of the Hot Rod began to wane as the major manufacturers offered cars from the muscle car era. The 1973 oil crisis also had an impact on the automobile. The performance car was out, replaced with safety and fuel efficiency. All of a sudden, the Hot Rod was back in vogue

Editor's note: High resolution images of each of these vehicles can be downloaded (7.2MB self-extracting zip file) at icbc.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adam Grossman
(604) 982-1332

Vancouver man tries to bribe road test examiner — March 24

Cash offered after driver failed his eighth road test

A Vancouver resident has been ordered to pay a $1,000 fine after being convicted of trying to bribe an ICBC employee.

Kim Hen Huynh was trying to qualify for a BC driver's licence but had already failed seven previous road tests when he arrived at the ICBC Driver Services Centre in Burnaby on August 21, 2007. A driver examiner took him on the test, and then informed Huynh that he had failed for the eighth time.

According to evidence provided by Crown Counsel, Huynh placed four $100 bills on the examiner's open folder upon their return to the Driver Services Centre, and said "Happy Birthday! Can you help me?" The examiner immediately reported the incident to his supervisor.

Huynh pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud. The judge flatly rejected his request for a conditional sentence in the matter, ruling it "was not sufficient to deter others from conduct contrary to Canadian values", and ordered Huynh to pay a $1,000 fine.

"With its decision, the court is sending a clear signal that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated, and that this is a serious offence", said Steven Tripp, ICBC's manager for fraud prevention. "We're focused on putting safe drivers with secure licences on B.C.'s roads."

ICBC provides driver licensing services to all British Columbians, with 121 points of service to assist customers across the province. The network includes 17 driver licensing centres and five Expressway centres, as well as government agents and appointed agents in smaller communities.

March is National Fraud Prevention Month in Canada, and ICBC is marking it by helping customers and the public to recognize, report and stop fraud. The public can help combat fraud and help keep their auto insurance premiums low and stable.

Anyone with information regarding a suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claim is encouraged to call ICBC's fraud tips line at 604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844, toll free from anywhere in the province. Tip information is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adam Grossman
(604) 982-1332

Court orders ICBC fraudster to repay fire department — March 17

A Maple Ridge man who set fire to his car with the intent of collecting on the insurance will have to repay firefighters for the cost of putting out the blaze.

The payment is one of the conditions placed on Thomas James Fergusson's probation, after he pleaded guilty to lying to ICBC. Fergusson was sentenced in BC Provincial Court to 12 months probation and 100 hours of community service, on top of being ordered to pay the Chilliwack Fire Department $960. The payment represents a portion of the estimated $3,000 cost of the department's time and resources.

"We believe it's one of the first times an ICBC customer has been ordered to pay restitution to emergency crews," said Steven Tripp, manager of ICBC's Special Investigation Unit (SIU), said of the court's penalty. "It's a unique penalty and one tailor made for the offence."

According to evidence presented by the Crown, Fergusson reported his car stolen on March 8, 2008, hours after the Ford Focus was destroyed by fire. SIU looked into the matter and, within weeks, Fergusson confessed he'd driven the Focus from his Maple Ridge home to the Chilliwack area, where he set it on fire.

The vehicle was valued at approximately $4,600, which ICBC would have paid out had the fraud not been discovered.

"We're committed to protecting our customers from fraudulent acts and those whose false claims threaten our low and stable rates," said Tripp.

March is National Fraud Prevention Month in Canada, and ICBC is marking it by helping customers and the public to recognize, report and stop fraud.

Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime; it affects everyone's insurance rates. Customers are encouraged to do their part to help fight fraud by reporting suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claims to ICBC's fraud tips line (604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844). Tip information is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adam Grossman
(604) 982-1332

ICBC to lower rates in 2009 — March 10

ICBC is reducing optional rates by three percent and basic rates are expected to remain the same in 2009.

"We are very pleased to be able to reduce optional rates by an average of three percent, and preliminary indications are that basic insurance rates will stay the same," said Jon Schubert, ICBC's President and CEO. "We are working on the final recommendation on basic rates for the British Columbia Utilities Commission."

This means customers who have purchased the same basic and optional policies from ICBC over the last five years have, on average, seen their premiums go down.

ICBC is reporting net income of $497 million for the year ending December 31, 2008, down $145 million or 23% from the previous year. Despite the drop in net income, ICBC's financial performance was strong thanks to a moderation in claims and the corporation's disciplined investment strategy.

ICBC's conservative investment strategy generated a rate of return of just over one percent in 2008 during one of the most difficult economic times in memory.

"Our strong financial position allows us to both reduce rates and contribute more to our retained earnings which will continue to cushion customers' rates during these volatile economic times." said Schubert.

ICBC thanks our customers who are doing their part by driving safely and reducing crashes to help keep rates low and stable.

For more details on ICBC's year end results visit ICBC 2008 year end results.

To find out more about how rates are set visit ICBC to lower rates in 2009.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Mark Jan Vrem
(604) 982-2476

Adam Grossman
(604) 982-1332

Frequently Asked Questions 2009 Insurance Rates — March 10

When will ICBC be making a final decision on 2009 basic insurance rates?

The preliminary indications are that basic rates will stay the same in 2009 but ICBC still has to complete the analysis. ICBC is working on the final recommendation on basic rates for the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC).

Insurance is a volatile industry and although we saw a moderation in the increase of injury claims costs this past year, which are predominantly covered by basic insurance, things can change quickly.

ICBC will be making their final recommendation to the BCUC later this spring (May - June).

How does ICBC set rates and what is the difference between setting basic rates and optional insurance rates?

Rates are set to cover forecasted future claims costs. Rate changes are not based on past profits.

Any changes to basic insurance rates need to be approved by the BCUC. They decide if basic insurance rates go up, go down or stay the same.

Optional insurance rates are set by ICBC's board of directors.

What is the difference between basic and optional insurance coverage?

Basic Insurance - Getting started with Basic Autoplan.

Basic insurance provides protection to all BC motorists through a standard level of coverage.

• ICBC provides some of the best basic auto insurance coverage in the country.
• Coverage protects those involved in a crash, whether they are at fault or not, by providing specified medical, wage replacement and other benefits, and provides $200,000 of coverage against claims from third parties for injury or other losses.
• Injury claims are predominantly covered by basic insurance.
• Basic insurance coverage consists of:
  
  • Accident Benefits: help you with your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and wage loss if you are injured in a crash, or funeral costs and death benefits in case of death. It doesn't matter who was at fault for the crash.
  • Third-Party Legal Liability: If you injure someone else or damage their property in a motor vehicle crash and are held legally responsible, Third-Party Legal Liability coverage pays their claims on your behalf, up to $200,000.
  • Protection Against Hit-and-Run and Uninsured Motorists
  • Underinsured Motorist Protection: Sometimes a motorist who causes a crash doesn't have enough insurance to pay for all of the injuries caused, or may not have insurance at all. If you are injured in such a crash, Underinsured Motorist Protection (UMP) makes sure you receive the damages that you are legally entitled to.
  • Inverse Liability coverage: protects you in the parts of Canada and the U.S. where the law won't let you recover losses from a driver who causes a crash.

Optional Insurance - How are my premiums set? - Additional coverage.

• Optional insurance protects the registered owner and/or operator of the vehicle insured and their assets, including:
  
  • Providing coverage to the registered owner for damage to or theft of the vehicle.
  • Additional protection for the registered owner and operator from third party liability.
  • Coverage for damage to your car from impact with another vehicle, person, object or the surface of the road. You are covered even if you are at fault in the crash. This includes coverage for the costs of towing, storage, and salvage disposal if needed.

ICBC 2008 year end results — March 10

ICBC is reporting net income of $497 million for the year ending December 31, 2008, down $145 million or 23% from the previous year. Despite the drop in net income, ICBC's financial performance was strong thanks to a moderation in claims and the corporation's disciplined investment strategy.

ICBC thanks our customers who are doing their part by driving safely and reducing crashes to help keep rates low and stable.

Insurance premiums

• Premiums earned for 2008 were $3.6 billion compared to $3.5 billion for 2007. ICBC saw higher optional insurance sales in 2008 which contributed to the increase in premiums earned, however the growth of vehicle population slowed down during the second half of the year.

Claims costs

• ICBC's net income for 2008 was due mainly to lower than expected claims and related costs - particularly in the area of injury claims. Claims totaled $2.8 billion compared to $2.9 billion in 2007.
• Despite all the snow in December, weather conditions in 2008 were generally very good with long, unusually dry periods. The good driving conditions for the majority of the year helped contribute to lower reported claims volumes.
• Claims costs were positively affected by a number of claims-related initiatives at ICBC and a moderation in vehicle population growth.
• ICBC's commitment to investing in road safety, auto crime and fraud prevention - more than $50 million in 2008 - has helped to reduce traffic-related deaths, injuries and the number and severity of crashes, and continues to play a positive role in lowering claims costs. This includes over $18 million in funding in 2008 for enhanced police enforcement. Some of this funding went towards integrated road safety units that target high risk behavior which helped reduce fatalities in 2008.

Investments

• Investment income for 2008 totaled $280 million compared to $612 million for 2007.
• The drop in investment income reflects the downturn in the markets and a one-time gain in 2007 associated with the sale of real estate.
• Despite the drop in investment income, ICBC's conservative investment strategy managed to generate a rate of return of just over one percent in 2008 during one of the most difficult markets and world economy in memory.

Insurance rates

• Optional rates for 2009 are being reduced by an average of three percent based on ICBC's strong financial position and claims forecasts for the coming year.
• Preliminary indications are that basic insurance rates will stay the same in 2009. ICBC is working on the final recommendation on basic rates for the British Columbia Utilities Commission.

Average Rate Changes for all vehicles, past five years

Basic Insurance
2009*	2008	2007	2006	2005
0.0%	0.0%	3.3%	6.5%	0.0%
Optional Insurance
2009	2008	2007	2006	2005
-3.0%	-3.0%	-3.8%	0.0%	-7.6%
Combined
2009*	2008	2007	2006	2005
-1.3	-1.2	0.2%	3.7%	-3.4%

* 2009 preliminary indications.

Upon implementation of the 3% reduction in optional rates, customers who have purchased the same basic and optional policies over the last five years will have seen, on average, an $18 decrease in their premiums.

Note: ICBC's Statement of Operations for 2008 accompanies this information bulletin and is available at: ICBC's Statement of Operations for 2008.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Mark Jan Vrem
(604) 982-2476

Adam Grossman
(604) 982-1332

ICBC marks 20th anniversary in making BC roads safer — March 9

Approximately $88 million spent in road improvements

ICBC marked its 20th year of helping keep customers and other road users safe by investing approximately $9 million last year on 280 road improvement projects and engineering studies in 81 communities.

ICBC launched its Road Improvement Program in 1989 and, since then, has invested approximately $88 million in road improvements across B.C.

"Road improvement programs deliver real value to our customers and other road users, from drivers to pedestrians", said ICBC's Nicolas Jimenez, director of Road Safety. "Most of our investments occurred over the past decade, as we assisted with more than 2,000 road enhancements to help make B.C. roads safer for everyone."

ICBC's Road Improvement Program works in partnership with municipalities and the provincial government to make roads safer. ICBC participates in engineering studies and assists communities with road safety issues in the planning of roadways and managing traffic.

"Currently ICBC is the only auto insurer in Canada, public or private, to invest in road improvement programs to this magnitude," said Jimenez. "We all benefit from these programs because safer roads lead to fewer crashes and help to prevent injury and death. And fewer crashes also translate into lower claims cost, which helps ICBC keep rates low and stable."

Projects proposed for road improvement investments are assessed to ensure they make B.C. roads safer for all road users. An independent evaluation of ICBC-funded road improvements found that, measured over a two year period after a project's completion, ICBC saves $4 in claims costs for every dollar invested. However, road users continue to benefit from road improvements well beyond two years.

ICBC's road safety investment concentrates on the systemic causes of crashes - drivers, roads and vehicles - and supports programs that are proven to prevent crashes and protect customers from risks on the road. In doing so, they are designed to deliver significant claim savings benefits to ICBC's customers.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kathy Taylor
604-982-2480

ICBC urges drivers to be extra-cautious next week following Daylight Savings Time adjustment — March 5

As British Columbians forward their clocks this Sunday for Daylight Savings Time (DST), ICBC is reminding drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to take extra care next week due to the grogginess some people may feel.

While the days will consist of more daylight, the time change can have a significant effect on some people's sleep patterns, resulting in a disruption to their circadian rhythms or 'biological clock.' Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians should remember to use caution and leave extra time to get to their destinations - particularly during the Monday commute.

Crash statistics illustrate a higher driving risk the first work day after Daylight Savings begins. According to the five year average (2003-2007), on the Monday following the spring time change there were 700 crash incidents, compared to 650 incidents the Monday before the time change, which represents a 7 per cent increase in crash incidents.

The average cost to ICBC customers for crash incidents following the spring time change (2003-2007) was $4.5 million.

Here are some driving tips:

• Continue to use your headlights at all times to ensure you are visible to pedestrians and other road users.
• Make sure your headlights are clean (splattered mud can cloud them) and that all bulbs (both high and low beam) are working properly.
• Try to get to bed earlier - and to help yourself to fall asleep faster, exercise during the day, have a hot bath or shower before going to bed and treat yourself to a book and a warm glass of milk.
• Plan to take more time driving to and from work next week.
• Slow down and keep your distance. It takes longer to stop on wet pavement.

Media Contact:
Kathy Taylor
604-982-2480

Provincial Government news releases

	NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Mar. 18, 2009
B.C. sets fine amount for second-hand smoke in vehicles VICTORIA - Children under the age of 16 will be protected from second-hand smoke in all motor vehicles when new regulations come into effect April 7, World Health Day, announced Healthy Living and Sport Minister Mary Polak and Public Safety Minister John van Dongen. "Any level of second-hand smoke has harmful effects on a child's health, so it's important that we protect vulnerable children who are confined in a vehicle," said Polak. "By making vehicles smoke-free for children under 16, we can help them get the best and healthiest start in life." Individuals found to be in violation of the law will be subject to a $109 ticket, which is the same as a booster seat fine. Failure to pay will result in a refusal to issue both a driver's licence and insurance. Police will have the authority to stop any vehicle when they suspect someone is smoking in the presence of a child under the age of 16. B.C. joins other jurisdictions that have banned smoking in cars when children are present, including Nova Scotia, Ontario and the Yukon. "We congratulate the B.C. government for taking this significant step to protect children and youth from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke," said Barbara Kaminsky, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon division. "The dangers of second-hand smoke are more pronounced in the enclosed space of a vehicle, and children - who are more susceptible to its harmful effects - have no choice but to breathe it in. These regulations, which raise the health outcomes of children, and are supported by the public, make sense." The regulations follow legislation that was passed in the spring of 2008 under the Motor Vehicle Act. The laws support the Province's larger tobacco control strategy, which aims to further reduce the provincial smoking rates and also protect children from second-hand smoke. B.C.'s recent initiatives include a provincewide policy in October 2008 that saw all health authority facilities throughout the province go smoke-free. In March 2008, government implemented legislation that banned smoking in indoor public spaces and workplaces and restricted the way tobacco is displayed and sold. As well, in September 2007, legislation was implemented that banned tobacco use in schools and on school grounds. B.C. has the lowest provincial smoking rate in the country at 14.4 per cent. For more information on tobacco control in B.C., visit the Tobacco Control Program's website at www.health.gov.bc.ca/tobacco/ . Media Contacts: Anne McKinnon Communications Director Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport Tel: 250 952-2387 Cell: 250 812-4012 For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province's news feeds using RSS, visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca .

	NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Mar. 06, 2009
Better cameras to monitor more high-crash sites VANCOUVER - The Province, police and ICBC will deploy state-of-the-art red-light cameras at 140 of B.C.'s most crash- and casualty-prone intersections to save lives and reduce serious injuries, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General John van Dongen announced today. "Crashes at intersections kill or injure about 53,000 people every year," said van Dongen. "In all, one million drivers have been involved in an intersection crash since 2003 - but red-light cameras have helped to cut the carnage, so we are upgrading our technology and targeting more high-crash intersections to catch, penalize and deter more dangerous drivers." The most recent study of B.C.'s decade-old camera program, conducted by ICBC in 2006, shows crashes involving death or injury declined 6.4 per cent at sites with red-light cameras. Overall crashes at these intersections fell six per cent. The study can be viewed at Intersection safety cameras - 2006 update (PDF) online. Other jurisdictions with red-light camera programs have seen similar results. Currently, B.C.'s 30 cameras rotate among 120 intersections. These cameras use film that must be manually unloaded and processed, delaying ticket mailing to the registered owners of photographed vehicles for three to five weeks. The upgraded program will put digital cameras at 140 sites and enable police to target these sites individually, at times of the day and week when crash data and other analysis show the risk is greatest. Digital photos will be downloaded remotely and mailed much sooner. The first digital cameras are expected to be operational later this summer. "Curbing aggressive driving at intersections is a policing priority - more than 40 per cent of injury or fatal crashes in B.C. occur at intersections," said Supt. Norm Gaumont of RCMP "E" Division Traffic Services. "The expansion of this program, combined with traditional enforcement, will help police to crack down on red-light runners and stop some of the serious right-angle and T-bone crashes that occur at intersections every day." The new red-light camera technology is currently being tested at intersections in Burnaby, Port Moody, Surrey and Vancouver. Site selection criteria under development will pinpoint intersections where cameras will most reduce crashes - particularly those that cause severe injuries. Program partners including ICBC, police and the ministry are working together to finalize the 140 intersections for inclusion in the program. "Running red lights puts everyone at risk," said Nicolas Jimenez, ICBC's road safety director. "There are about 270 intersection crashes every day in B.C., so everyone needs to use extra caution when approaching intersections." Red-light tickets carry a $167 fine, which is reduced by $25 if paid within 30 days. Upgrading and expanding the program is expected to cost $20 million. B.C. municipalities will continue to receive all net revenue from traffic fines, to help them enhance their policing and community-based public safety programs. For samples of photos taken with the new digital technology and video footage of a vehicle running a red light and nearly causing a collision, please visit Video clip & photos (PDF) online. Media Contacts: Cindy Rose Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Tel: 250 356-6961 Mark Jan Vrem ICBC Communications Tel: 604 982-2476

Better cameras to monitor more high-crash sites

Video clip & photos

Video clip & photos (PDF)