ICBC investments helping to make B.C. roads safer

Evaluation shows everyone benefits from road improvements

VANCOUVER, Sept. 9 /CNW/ - A 2009 evaluation showed that ICBC's investment in road improvements are helping keep everyone safer. The evaluation of ICBC's investment in 102 road improvement projects (from a total of 750 projects), showed a 20 per cent reduction in fatal and severe injury crashes and a 12 per cent reduction in non-injury crashes.

"Road improvements deliver real value to our customers and all road users, from drivers to pedestrians," said ICBC's Nicolas Jimenez, director of road safety. "Over the past 21 years, we've invested about $100 million in more than 2,750 road enhancements to help make our roads safer for everyone."

ICBC's Road Improvement Program works in partnership with municipalities and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to help make our communities safer.

The evaluation, conducted by Dr. Tarek Sayed, professor of civil engineering at U.B.C. and Dr. Paul Deleur, transportation safety engineer, concluded that for every dollar invested, ICBC and its customers see a return five to 12 times the investment. That is, for every dollar invested, ICBC and its customers save $5.60 over two years and $12.80 over five years in reduced crash costs.

For urban area road improvements, the study evaluated 42 projects where ICBC spent $1.6 million, which resulted in savings of $7.6 million over two years and $19.3 million over five years. The savings on rural highway areas were even higher. ICBC spent $2.9 million on 60 projects, which resulted in savings of $13.8 million over two years and $35.1 million over five years.

Projects include a wide range of countermeasures, from roundabouts to left hand turn bays, from signage to median barriers. Evaluated projects within the Lower Mainland include:

• North Vancouver: Intersection improvement at Marine Drive and Hamilton Avenue. ICBC invested $46,000 and the improvement resulted in a 20 per cent drop in both property damage and severe injury crashes, saving $129,100 over two years and $351,200 over five years.
  
• Coquitlam: Left turn lane installation at Johnson Street and Glen Drive. ICBC invested $60,000 and the improvement resulted in a 66 per cent drop in property damage and 67 per cent drop in severe injury crashes, saving $659,400 over two years and $1.5 million over five years.
• Vancouver: New traffic signal at Point Grey Road and Alma Street. ICBC invested $25,000 and the improvement resulted in a 75 per cent drop in property damage claims and 100 per cent drop in severe injury crashes, saving $145,200 over two years and $361,000 over five years.

ICBC also participates in engineering safety studies and works with communities to make sure road safety issues are considered in the planning of roadways and managing traffic.

"We're in communities across the province," said Jimenez. "Our community partnerships are paramount to the success of this program."

Over the past 20 years, ICBC's Road Improvement Program has evolved significantly - community investments and successful partnerships have led to award winning projects and the contributions helped advance the knowledge of the road safety engineering industry in B.C. and across Canada. A look at the past 20 years of ICBC's Road Improvement Program can be viewed here.

The Road Improvement Program is one aspect of ICBC's commitment to help make B.C. roads safer. ICBC's road safety investments focus on the systemic causes of crashes - drivers, roads and vehicles - and support programs that are proven to prevent crashes and help keep customers safer. Safer roads lead to fewer crashes, injuries and fatalities, which also translates into lower claims costs and helps ICBC keep rates stable.

To find out more about the projects, the evaluation can viewed here.

At ICBC, we have more than 5,000 employees committed to our 3.1 million customers and their safety on the road. We license and insure drivers and vehicles across the province through our service centres, plus a network of more than 900 independent brokers and government agent offices. Claims customers are served through local offices and our award-winning Dial-a-Claim call centre. We add value to B.C. communities - our road safety investments help create safer roads, lead to fewer crashes, and help keep our rates stable. To find out more, visit icbc.com.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/icbc.

For further information:

Media contacts: Adam Grossman, 604-982-1332