Bad driving habits targeted by Police, IRSU and ICBC — May 30

Police, IRSU and ICBC launch high-risk driving campaign

Still think that rushing to beat a light or driving over the speed limit are acceptable driving behaviours? Think again. Today, the police, the Integrated Road Safety Unit (IRSU) and ICBC kicked off a campaign that highlights the risks associated with bad driving habits.

Many motorists commonly engage in bad driving habits, such as speeding and tailgating. While these may seem harmless, they dramatically increase the risk of causing a crash. The police, IRSU and ICBC are asking drivers to modify their own behaviour and to encourage friends and loved ones to do the same.

Bad driving behaviours were a factor in 45 per cent of crashes in the Lower Mainland in 2005.

"Every-day habits such as rushing through a light, driving over the speed limit or making a late left turn increase the risk of causing a crash," says ICBC Director of Road Safety & Loss Prevention Nicolas Jimenez. "We ask drivers to do their part to make our roads safer, by changing their bad habits. Bad habits affect everyone's insurance rates."

ICBC's latest road safety campaign will involve advertising, as well as police and volunteer initiatives aimed at reducing crashes and injuries caused by high-risk driving. ICBC is spending approximately $440,000 on television advertising across the province, plus an additional $105,000 specifically on transit and radio advertising in the Lower Mainland.

Other activities include police and Speed Watch deployments in communities all across the Lower Mainland. These deployments will target high-injury locations on a repeated basis. Speed Watch helps reduce speed-related crashes by making drivers more aware of the actual speed they are travelling at. Police often deploy down the road from the Speed Watch volunteers, and motorists who don't slow down face the possibility of getting a ticket.

Fewer crashes and less severe crashes also help to keep auto insurance rates low and stable. Rates are directly impacted by the number of crashes that occur on the roads. Increased crashes result in more ICBC claims which require additional insurance premiums to cover claims costs. ICBC wants to keep insurance rates low and stable, but motorists need to do their part by driving safely. Bad driving habits affect everyone's insurance rates.

Currently high-risk drivers are not paying premiums that reflect the risk they represent. Higher rates for high-risk drivers means benefits for good drivers. For implementation in 2008, ICBC is also proposing higher rates for high-risk drivers. There is a strong link between certain high-risk driving behaviours - excessive speed, failing to yield, improper passing, running red lights or stop signs - and crashes.

This campaign runs from June 1 through July 30. For more information, visit http://www.icbc.com/road_safety/crash_location.asp

High Risk Driving Campaign Speed Watch Deployment Schedule

Media Contact:
Tom Webster
604-230-1964

Alex Lee
604-786-6459

ICBC to reduce crashes in College Heights — May 24

PRINCE GEORGE, BC - This morning, at the site of the most crash-prone intersection in Prince George and the North Central region, MLA John Rustad announced the launch of a community-centric road safety project focused at reducing the crashes in College Heights.

"This is an extremely busy area of Prince George, evident by the continued development in the area," said Rustad. "I've seen traffic increase dramatically since moving to this office in 2005. This is a welcome project."

The Safe Intersection Project was initiated in the fall of 2006, when statistics confirmed a dangerous trend: Prince George has the most crash-prone intersection in the North Central region. A large group of safety-minded community stakeholders rallied around the project. Their aim? To reduce crashes in the popular College Heights intersection of Highway 16 and Domano Boulevard and make roads safer for residents and visitors to Prince George.

"ICBC has an entire Loss Prevention department province-wide who listens to the concerns of communities, and then works with partners for the safety of British Columbians who live in our province and drive on our roads," said ICBC Loss Prevention coordinator, Christine Silver.

Working with road safety engineers from ICBC, the Ministry of Transportation and the City of Prince George-along with consulting community groups Northern Health and the Prince George Truckers Association, and additional RCMP, ICBC, and Yellowhead Road and Bridge staff-the group created a one-year pilot project to address and bring awareness to the high-crash issue.

The pilot project includes increased RCMP enforcement along Highway 16; new signage which specifically addresses the most common crashes at the intersection (merging, speed-related and left turn rear-enders); and a public awareness campaign on local radio stations.

"For the year, we will continue to collect crash statistics and compare them to previous numbers," said RCMP Sergeant Guy Tremblay. "Any reduction is success. We've worked diligently to make this a priority in the minds of drivers."

ICBC has undertaken the Safe Intersection Project as part of their loss prevention strategy, investing millions of dollars annually to fund and promote local road safety initiatives throughout BC. ICBC invests in road safety programs to help reduce injuries, save lives and keep insurance rates low and stable.

Media Contact:
Christine Silver
250-561-5091
250-614-4997 (cell)

Port Coquitlam mother and daughter attempt to defraud ICBC — May 23

ICBC has a zero tolerance for fraud

Charan Jit Virk and Harjeevan Virk were charged, under Section 42.1 of under the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act, with providing false information to ICBC. The Virks pleaded guilty prior to trial. Charan Jit Virk was fined $1500, and Harjeevan Virk was fined $500. They are also responsible to repay ICBC $4910.64, the cost to repair their vehicle.

"ICBC's zero tolerance for fraud is one of our strategies to help keep rates low and stable," said Steve Tripp, ICBC manager of Fraud Prevention and Investigation. "It is not acceptable to ICBC to sit back and pass the cost of fraud onto our customers," said Tripp.

According to allegations in the charge, Harjeevan Virk was driving her father's 2002 Honda Civic on July 18, 2006, when she had a single vehicle collision. When reporting the claim to ICBC, Harjeevan's mother, Charan Jit Virk, claimed she was the driver and Harjeevan was a passenger. Both also alleged they suffered injuries as a result of the crash. A thorough investigation by ICBC claims staff and investigators uncovered the truth. Harjeevan was alone in the Honda at the time of the crash, and the driver. As a result of intentionally providing false information to ICBC, their claims were denied.

"Providing false information to ICBC when making a claim is fraud," said Steve Tripp, ICBC manager for fraud prevention. "The Canadian Coalition Against Insurance Fraud estimates that up to 15 per cent of insurance claims are either exaggerated or fraudulent. ICBC has a zero tolerance for fraud," said Tripp.

Last year, BC motorists saved more than $75 million thanks to ICBC anti-fraud programs. The public is encouraged to help fight fraud by reporting suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claims. Information provided to ICBC's fraud tips line (604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844) is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

Vancouver resident omits information - Jury backs ICBC decision to deny the majority of the claim — May 4

A recent B.C. Supreme Court jury decision (Rallahan v. Siu and Litt) reinforces the need to provide complete and accurate information when making a claim with ICBC. Balwinder Singh Rallahan, of Vancouver, had the majority of his claim rejected after key evidence at trial revealed he had intentionally omitted relevant medical history information when filing his claim with ICBC.

"ICBC needs its customers to provide complete and accurate information in a timely fashion when making a claim," said Sue Carle, ICBC vice-president Claims Services. "Without the complete picture, ICBC cannot accurately assess the claim and provide fair compensation to the claimant. Paying too much for claim settlements is unfair to all ICBC customers who pay premiums, but paying too little is unfair to claimants," said Carle.

Rallahan was involved in two crashes while driving his taxicab in 2001 and 2002. His vehicle was repaired by ICBC, and medical benefits were paid. As a result of the crashes, Rallahan also claimed $200,000 in lost wages and $50,000 for pain and suffering. During the trial, it became apparent that Rallahan had failed to disclose a prior, related injury to either his doctors or ICBC claims staff. The jury awarded Rallahan just $1000 for the first crash, and rejected his entire claim for the second crash. Since the amount awarded by the jury is less than previously offered by ICBC, Rallahan may be responsible for paying ICBC's court costs.

"It's vital that claimants understand that failing to accurately inform their doctors and ICBC about their medical history can affect their credibility in the eyes of the court," said Joseph P. Cahan, of Alexander, Holburn, Beaudin & Lang, the lawyer who represented ICBC in this case.

In addition, providing false information to ICBC can be considered fraud, as can intentionally omitting details from a claim, or exaggerating symptoms. Anyone with information on a suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claim is encouraged to phone 604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844. Information provided to the ICBC's tips line is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

For more information on ICBC's loss prevention programs visit www.icbc.com.

Car Crashes Are Still the #1 Killer of Youth in the Vancouver Island Regios — May 3

Victoria B.C. - In 2005, there were 11 youth killed in motor vehicle crashes on Vancouver Island, that's two more than the year before. Car crashes continue to kill more young people between 13 - 21 years of age than any other cause.

Once again the South Island Autoplan Brokers and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) are working together to ensure a strong message reaches the youth in the South Vancouver Island region. Road Sense Speaker, Kevin Brooks will speak at 13 high schools in May.

The Road Sense Speaker tour is an effective way of communicating with youth and is fully supported by participating schools. Kevin Brooks' story highlights the potential for life to change when you make poor choices. His moving presentation tells the story of the decision that killed his friend and paralyzed him, changing his future forever.

In 2005, there were 1,400 youth injured in car crashes on Vancouver Island and Jay Tuson, Chair of the South Island Autoplan Broker Road Safety Team thinks that's too many. "We continue to fund the youth program because we believe in the importance of informing and educating youth about the potential risks associated with driving."

"The police agencies on Vancouver Island are happy to support ICBC's and the Autoplan Brokers' youth program this year," says Staff Sergeant Ted Smith, speaking for the Island District Traffic Services and Integrated Road Safety Unit (IRSU). "Our goal is to reduce youth injuries and fatalities on our roads. Young drivers make up only 5 per cent of the driving population, but account for more than 13 per cent of those seriously injured in car crashes."

"These two components provide the opportunity for dialogue with youth and parents. ICBC is proud of the ongoing partnerships that we have and the common goal of reducing the tragedies of youth-related crashes," said Brian Sargent, Regional Manager Loss Prevention, ICBC.

In British Columbia, there were 76 youth killed and 9,700 youth injured in car crashes in 2005. The partners involved in the campaign are hoping to lower these numbers.

For more information on road safety, visit ICBC's website at www.icbc.com. Lists of events and school schedules are attached.

For more information contact:
Tamara McLean
Regional Marketing & Communications
250-414-7883

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