Friday, June 12, 1992 — North Shore News - 33

Hit and run program takes the offensive

EVERY DAY, people who consider themselves good
drivers bump, scrape and dent other cars, fences and posts,
then drive away without even checking for damage.

These are the hit-and-run
drivers who cost ICBC and
motorists over $2 million anruaily
on the North Shore. Now the in-
surance corporation and police
have begun a program to reduce
these costs, prosecute offenders
and make the public more aware
of their responsibilities.

A hit and run occurs when a
motorist, directly or indirectly in-
volved in an accident, fails to stop
and give his or her name, address
and vehicle licence number to
other drivers or property owners.

If a parked car is hit, the driver
must immediately leave a note in a
conspicuous place indicating who
he or she is and where they live.

When 2 sign post or telephone
pole is hit, they must notify the
appropriate agency, such as the
highways department or B.C. Tel.

Many hit and runs occur in
parking lots while vehicles are
parked. If you cannot avoid
shopping centres during peak
times, park away from. stores,
where there is less traffic conges-
tion.

If you witness a hit and run,
police suggest you record the
licence numbers of both the
suspect and the victim vehicles, a
description of the fleeing vehicle
and its driver, then aotify police
as soon as possible.

Some drivers leave the scene

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By Cst. C.J. Wareham
Contributing Writer

because they are impaired, have
no driver’s licence or are just too
irresponsible to repair the damage
they cause.

One unjustified fear is an in-
creased insurance premium. The
fact is, if they hit and run, they
can suffer a driving suspension,
fines, criminal prosecution and
imprisonment, and court costs,
and stil! have to pay for the darm-
age.

All B.C. motorists are covered
against bodily injuries, death or

a]
North Vancouver
Claim Centre

Hit and Run —
PROPERTY DAMAGE

No. of claims Dollars paid
1989 1,879 $ 911,350
1990 2,307 1,246,138
1991 2,721 1,797,884
Hit and Run —

BODILY INJURY

No. of claims Dollars paid
1989 27 $ 81,213
1990 39 198,657
1991 86 453,501

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property damage resulting from
the negligent operation of an
unidentified motor vehicle on a
provincial street or highway.

Resident motorists do not need
collision coverage to be protected
in a hit and run. They must pay
$150 towards repairs, but this is
refunded if the other driver is ap-
prehended.

If you are involved in aa acci-
dent you must:
@ stop,
@ give help if needed,
o exchange driver and insurance
information (copy it from their
documents, ensuring address is
current), and
@ report it to the local police
within 24 hours (if no injuries and
minor damage, drivers may not

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require a report}.
eee

ICBC requires a report within
48 hours, but they prefer that you
call the Dial-a-claim office im-
mediately.

Witnesses are valuable. Get
their names ard addresses. They
can settle differences in reports.

Even accidents at low speeds
can cause soft tissue damage, such
as sprains and whiplash. Make
sure no one has been hurt. Ex-
change information. Although
vehicle damage may not be
noticeable, unseen structural
cracks to a bumper can cost $500
to repair.

At the other end of the spec-
trum, there are drivers who make
false reports of hit and run. Peo-
ple found misleading police and
ICBC are being charged criminally
for public mischief and fraud.

ICBC spokesperson Kim King
says: ‘‘Each year, an average of
30% of hit and run claims
reported to ICBC are denied
because the damage was not caus-
ed by a hit and run motorist, but
usually by the person making the
claim.”’

Some examples are drivers
backing into barricades or scrap-
ing their cars against parking tick-
et dispensers.

Listed below are some local
ICBC hit and run statistics. They

indicate an increasing trend of |

motorists neglecting their duties at
an accident scene.

Drivers are encouraged to use
caution when backing up and to
avoid small parkades. Above all,
if they do make contact with a car
or other object, they must notify
the property owner immediately.
It’s the law!

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