Drive smart in winter conditions

ICBC is committed to customers and open during the holiday season

VANCOUVER , Dec. 10 /CNW/ - With the first snowfall in the forecast for the Lower Mainland, ICBC wants to remind all drivers to prepare for winter driving conditions and be extra cautious.

December is traditionally the time of year that sees the most crashes, many of which are preventable by preparing your vehicle, planning ahead and driving smart.

Be cautious of the winter hazards - snow covered roads and black ice. When the snow begins to melt, the potential hazards will include standing water, flooded areas, potholes and even black ice if temperatures remain low. For all of these types of winter hazards, drivers need to remember the same two key tips - reduce your speed and increase your following distance. The more time you have to react to any hazard the better. And of course, expect delays and get in the habit of checking road conditions at drivebc.ca before heading out, especially for possible road and highway closures.

ICBC recommends having the 'At the scene of a crash' claims card in your vehicle. Experiencing a crash can be frightening and stressful, and these cards are designed to help customers remember all the vital information they need to gather in order to make a claim. The cards are available from local Autoplan brokers, ICBC Claim Centres or can be downloaded from www.icbc.com.

In the event severe winter road conditions lead to higher-than normal call volumes for ICBC's Dial-A-Claim call centre, ICBC asks customers to be patient and suggests having the following information ready:

    
    -   your vehicle licence plate number
    -   the driver's licence number of the person driving your vehicle
    -   the licence plate and driver's licence numbers of the other
        vehicle(s) involved
    -   where the crash happened
    -   when the crash happened
    

If you are involved in a crash, ICBC is committed to providing a hassle-free experience and will be open to assist customers throughout the holiday season. Customers in the Lower Mainland can reach Dial-a-Claim by calling 604-520-8222. Those who are elsewhere in BC can dial 1-800-910-4222, and those outside of BC can call 1-800-910-4222.

For more information, please visit www.icbc.com and click on "Report a Claim."

For further information: Media contacts: Adam Grossman, [phone]