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September 2008 news releases

Provincial news releases

Smart driving saves money, helps the earth — September 29
New service to better protect used car buyers — September 15

Government news releases

School's back: Drive safely to keep kids safe>— Sept 1

Smart driving saves money, helps the earth
— September 29

ICBC has launched a new campaign to help drivers save money, protect the environment and be smarter on the road.

“Driving smart is about changing how we drive to save money on gas and reduce our vehicle carbon emissions,” said Jeff Schulz, vice president of Strategic Marketing. “These smart driving habits have an added benefit of being safer driving habits. We’re asking motorists to examine the impact of their driving habits and learn how to avoid being ‘dirty drivers’.”

ICBC encourages motorists to visit a new website, drivesmartsavegreen.com, which offers interactive information and resources for saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This campaign has a humorous approach that features fictional characters, confessing their dirty driving habits. Drivers can view these “dirty driver” video confessions on the site’s interactive bulletin board.

“Driving smart means making the right driving decisions,” said Nicolas Jimenez, director of Road Safety. “Planning your route, allowing enough time, reducing your speed, and not accelerating and then braking hard are examples of green driving that also help improve safety.”

The website offers a fuel costs and emissions calculator to assist drivers in understanding the financial and environmental impact of their driving habits. The site also has links to additional resources on how to save money on gas, reduce carbon emissions and drive safely.

An e-mail-a-friend function allows visitors to share their favourite video clips or challenge someone to take a smart driving quiz.

Visitors can sign up for e-mail updates that include new tips, videos, quizzes and contests.

Media Contact:
Adam Grossman (604) 982-1332

 

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New service to better protect used car buyers
— September 15

ICBC has launched a free online service to allow customers to look up a vehicle’s status, helping them to make informed buying decisions when purchasing used vehicles. All vehicles in North America are assigned a status to describe the general state of the vehicle and whether it qualifies to be on the road.

The vehicle status search launched today on icbc.com and works by entering the vehicle model year and vehicle identification number (VIN) – a series of letters and numbers assigned by the vehicle manufacturer. In most cases, a VIN is 17 characters long and can be found on a vehicle’s dashboard identification plate, on the doorpost and on the engine firewall.

After entering the VIN and vehicle model year online, customers are provided with the current status of the vehicle, which will be one of the following four designations:

The status search provides the current status listed in the B.C. vehicle registry. Changes to a vehicle’s status are reported by insurance companies, tow operators, and automobile recyclers to the Registrar of Motor Vehicle, which in BC is ICBC . ICBC provides vehicle licensing and vehicle registration services, including maintaining the vehicle registry, on behalf of the provincial government.

A vehicle’s status is only one part of its overall history and may change overtime. The status of a vehicle does not fully describe its mechanical condition or damage history . Additional tips for customers buying a used car are available on icbc.com. Customers can also get detailed information on a vehicle’s registration, crash and lien history through the existing Vehicle Claims History report and CarProof Verified BC report. For more information about these reports, which are available online for a fee, please visit icbc.com.

“We encourage anyone thinking of buying a used vehicle to use the tools ICBC makes available to help them – a little research can go a long way,” said Mark Francis, manager of Provincial Vehicle Registration and Licensing. “There are a number of precautions people can take to protect themselves in making an informed buying decision, giving them the trust and confidence that their purchase is a good one.”

The online vehicle status search was one of the commitments made by ICBC following the investigation into its Burnaby-based research and training facility.

Media Contact:
Adam Grossman (604) 982-1332

 

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Government news releases

School's back: Drive safely to keep kids safe - Sept 1

BC Government logo

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Sept. 1, 2008		 Ministry of Transportation

School's back: Drive safely to keep kids safe

VICTORIA – With most B.C. children returning to school tomorrow, Solicitor General John van Dongen is urging motorists to drive with extra care and watch out for students.

“Children will be excited about meeting their new teachers and classmates and they may not be thinking about their personal safety, so drivers need to be extra cautious,” said van Dongen.

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 pedestrian signal.
  • Watch out for pedestrians when backing up.
  • The faster you travel, the greater distance it will take to stop. 

Tips for pedestrians:

  • Make eye contact with drivers, so you know they see you.
  • Always be cautious and pay attention to traffic.
  • Use designated crossing points and obey pedestrian traffic signs and signals.
  • Look left, right and left again before stepping off the curb.

“Traffic officers across the province will be patrolling school zones in an effort to ensure motorists are driving appropriately,” said Cst. Dave Babineau, RCMP Traffic Services. “The number-1 priority for everyone should be the safety of our children. It’s everyone’s responsibility – be aware of your surroundings and be extra careful around schools.”

When school is in session, a 30-km/h school zone speed limit is in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. , unless otherwise posted. Drivers are also reminded vehicles approaching from both directions must stop for school buses when their lights are flashing.

“If your kids are starting school this fall, go over the route with them, showing them how to get to and from school safely,” said Nicolas Jimenez, ICBC’s director of road safety and loss prevention. “Even older children need to be reminded of the rules of the road.”

ICBC provides free road safety curriculum materials to schools across B.C. The materials are customized to each grade level and designed to promote road safety awareness among students. Road Sense speakers also work to educate young people about the risks of driving and will tell their own personal stories to approximately 50,000 students this coming school year.

The solicitor general and the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles are also reminding parents about new booster seat regulations that came into effect earlier this summer to reduce the risk of injury to children.

As of July 1, 2008, all children over 18kg (40 lbs.) need to be in booster seats until they are 1.45 metres (4’9”) tall or age nine. A booster seat will properly position a seat belt over a child’s shoulders and across the chest so the risk of serious injury and death is greatly reduced in the event of a crash.

Media Contacts:
Cindy Rose
Ministry of Public Safety and
Solicitor General
Tel: 250 356-6961

Kathy Taylor
ICBC Corporate Communications
Tel: 604-982-2480
Cell: 604-816-7983

 

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