ICBC thanks commuters for drop in claims during 2010 Winter Games

VANCOUVER, March 4 /CNW/ - With an estimated 250,000 visitors to our province, we anticipated our roads would be busier than ever but thanks to B.C. residents and its visitors, that wasn't the case.

"We want to thank everyone for planning ahead and commuting creatively," said Ash Megalli, 2010 claims services manager at ICBC. "Our preliminary numbers indicate there were approximately 20 per cent fewer claims reported during the 2010 Winter Games than the same time period in 2009."

"We put a plan in place to deal with an anticipated increase in claims, but thanks to everyone's smart choices we actually saw a decrease in claims," said Megalli. "The level of cooperation by residents alone was remarkable - from those who live and work downtown, employers that allowed staff to work from home, to all the residents that left their cars at home. We've all helped make these Winter Games safe and successful."

The courtesy shown by those who did drive definitely didn't go unnoticed. NBC anchor and managing editor, Brian Williams, thanked Canada in a recent blog post Leaving behind a thank-you note, "For not honking your horns. I didn't hear one car horn in 15 days."

"All road users did their part and they should be proud," said Megalli. "They planned ahead, made smart driving decisions and were courteous hosts - all of which left lasting impressions."

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