Burnaby and Coquitlam partners join Mayor's Walk along North Road — September 7

ICBC, North Road BIA Bike Patrol and RCMP stage auto crime arrest

The North Road Business Improvement Association (BIA), ICBC and RCMP will participate in a Mayor's Walk along North Road and will stage an auto crime arrest from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 12. With support from the cities of Burnaby and Coquitlam, the North Road BIA and its community partners have organized this event to showcase the success of the experimental bike patrol project that began in December of 2005 to combat auto crime.

"We're very pleased with the community partnerships and our preliminary data from the project so far," said Darcy Gorchynski, ICBC's director of the Lower Mainland region. "The first six months have shown a remarkable decline in auto crime incidents along the targeted portion of North Road compared with stats from the previous four years. We want to ensure this downward trend continues into the fall and holiday shopping season. By investing in auto crime programs, ICBC can ensure insurance rates remain low and stable for our customers," continued Gorchynski.

The Mayor's Walk will take place along the North Road corridor and include Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan and Coquitlam Mayor Maxine Wilson, along with representatives from the RCMP, ICBC, bike patrol team, and various business partners.

Media Event and Photo Opportunity

Who:	Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan Coquitlam Mayor Maxine Wilson Michael Hwang, president, North Road Business Improvement Association Darcy Gorchynski, ICBC, director, Lower Mainland region Alison Hart, ICBC, manager, Lower Mainland loss prevention RCMP representatives
What:	Mayor's Walk along the North Road corridor from Highway 1 to Lougheed Town Centre, where a staged auto crime arrest will occur.
When:	10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 12, 2006.
Where:	Brief reception and refreshments in the lobby of the Best Western Coquitlam Inn and Convention Centre, 319 North Road, followed by a 15-minute Mayor's Walk along North Road.
Why:	To raise awareness about community solutions to combat auto crime and show the effectiveness of the North Road BIA bike patrol.

For more information contact:
Gord Couling
604-786-6458

Vancouver couple attempts to defraud ICBC by staging a crash — September 5

ICBC has a zero tolerance for fraud

Mohsen Said Jamer and Mahyeh Saber Hassan, both of Vancouver, are facing the consequences of attempting to defraud ICBC. It is alleged that Jamer and Hassan staged a crash, filed a claim with ICBC and were paid out money for faked injuries.

ICBC recently filed a lawsuit in British Columbia Supreme Court against Jamer and Hassan. ICBC is seeking to recover $176,676.18 for compensation already paid, as well as investigation costs and punitive damages.

"ICBC has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to fraud," said Mark Withenshaw, ICBC vice president of loss management. "We will not sit back and simply pass the cost of fraud onto our customers."

According to the statement of claim, at approximately 8:40 p.m. on May 2, 1999 Hassan drove her 1991 Dodge Caravan into the intersection of Oak Street and West 14th Avenue in Vancouver and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. Travelling in the vehicle with Hassan were her husband Jamer and their four children. After the crash all six occupants attended the hospital claiming injuries.

When filing their claim with ICBC, neither Hassan nor Jamer acknowledged the fact they knew the second driver. ICBC later uncovered evidence that the two drivers involved in the crash are related to each other.

ICBC alleges the collision is staged based on evidence from the crash, the information provided by the occupants of the vehicles, and the relationship between the claimants.

"ICBC invests in fraud prevention because by reducing fraud, we can reduce claims costs which helps to keep insurance rates low and stable. While ICBC seeks to identify potential fraud before the claim is paid, we will also pursue fraudulent claims through civil lawsuits and criminal prosecutions," said Withenshaw.

Anyone with information on a suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claim is encouraged to phone the ICBC Tips Line at 604-661-6844. Information is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

Back to school safety — September 1

Bright yellow lawn signs remind drivers to slow down in school zones

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

Autoplan brokers distributed 12,000 bright yellow lawn signs to more than 1,300 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," said Lynn Buntain from Buntain Insurance Agencies Ltd. "This is the third consecutive year Autoplan brokers have sponsored the lawn sign campaign and it's been so well received we're delighted to support it again," added Buntain.

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 p.m., unless otherwise posted. The law also requires drivers to stop for school buses when their red lights are flashing.

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

In 2004 in B.C., there were more than 2,100 pedestrian-related crash incidents, with police attending 65 reported pedestrian fatalities. In these pedestrian-related crashes, 84 children between the ages of five and 12 years old were injured. More than half of all pedestrian-related crashes occur at intersections and around one quarter take place at crossings with signal lights.

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 to fund and promote road safety initiatives throughout B.C. For more information on the program, please visit your local Autoplan broker or visit www.roadsafety.ca

Tips for Pedestrians:

• Make eye contact with drivers, so you know they see you and they know you see them.
• Always be cautious and pay attention to traffic, as drivers may sometimes disobey traffic signals or not stop.
• Use designated crossing points and obey pedestrian traffic signs and signals.
• Look left, right and left again before stepping off the curb.
• Wear bright-colored clothing or carry reflective articles, especially when walking at night.

Tips for Drivers

• Always yield to pedestrians.
• Beware of pedestrians who appear indecisive or inattentive.
• Be alert to vehicles stopped in the lane next to yours. They may be yielding for a pedestrian.
• Beware of pedestrians still attempting to cross the street on a flashing orange pedestrian signal.
• Watch out for pedestrians when backing up your vehicle.
• Always be alert for pedestrians, especially at intersections.

For more information contact:
Kim Thé
604-833-3586
Tom Webster
604-230-1964

Copyright © 2008 ICBC - Insurance Corporation of British Columbia