ICBC’s “I’M OVER age 65 and receive the 25 per cent discount. Since this is basically a ‘pleasure’ rate, may I use my vehicle to take my granddaughter to school?’’....“‘How did ICBC establish a fair market value for my truck, which was a ‘total loss’ from my accident?’’....“{1 don’t agree that I’m 50 per cent responsible for my accident. How do ! ap- peal?”’ These are just three ex- amples of the 260,000 en- quiries (250,000 phone calls and 10,000 letters) received Child restraints reduce deaths | INFANT AND child restraints, when properly us- ed, can reduce fatalities by 90 per cent and disabling in- juries by 65 to 70 per cent. In a 1987 Transport Canada survey, about 33 per cent of B.C. children under five were not in a restraint system appropriate for their age, and only 69 per cent of those in appropriate testraints used them proper- ly. As a result, only 53 per cent of children under five in B.C. are properly restrained. Twelve B.C. children under age five were killed and 590 injured in motor vehicle accidents in 1984; in 1985 after mandatory seat belt legislation was in- troduced, these numbers dropped to seven and 573 respectively. In 1987, even with increased population, deaths totalled 10 and inju- ries only 451. For every one per ceiit in- crease in the wearing rate of seat belts and child restraints, there is a cost sav- ing of $1.35 million in health care and insurance costs. In a 25 mph crash, a baby lying on the front seat of a car will smash into the pro- truding knobs of the instru- ment panel %-second after impact. A 10-pound infant in the arms of a buckled-up parent will be ripped from the parent’s arms with a force of over 300 pounds in a crash at only 30 mph. The infant suffers this collision with the same force as if he had teen dropped from a third storey window. A 150-pound adult holding a child in his or her lap will exert a force of 4,500 pounds — over two tons — on the child in a 30 mph crash, only 3/20 of a second wvfter impact. (Multiply your body weight by 30; that’s how much force your body will exert in a 30 mph crash.) In a rear-end collision, children seated unrestrained in the back of a van or sta- tion «vagon, or in the cargo area of a truck, will be catapulted through the rear window, smashing into the pavement less than %- second after impact. In a forward crash, they will be hurled into the front. seat backs and dashboard. All new safety seats sold in Canada must be approved by Transport Canada. The Canadian Motor Vehicle sufety sticker (CMVSS 213.1) on the back of the seat indicates the manufac- turer's compliance with fed- eral safety standards. Four basic types of A U TFT OM OT enquiries office will answer queries Auto Topic Andy Neimers INSURANCE CORPORATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, in ICBC's Public Enquiries Department (PED), at head office at Lonsdale Quay, each year. While the majority of callers are requesting rate quotations or some addi- tional explanation on coverage, others are involved in a claim and want to know the other options available to them. It's the Public En- restraints are available: Infant carriers are specially-designed for babies up to 20 pounds (nine kg). These face the rear of the vehicle and are anchored to the car with the lap belt. Convertible seats can be used for an infant in a rear- facing position and, when the child is older, as a front-facing safety seat. These are safe for children from birth to 40 pounds (18 kg). When used in the for- ward-facing position, most quities Department which provides the answers and also acts as the corporation's “internal ombudsman"’ to resolve problems as quickly 28 possible. The departmental goal is explained by manager Mur- ray Rogan: ‘*We will cer- tainly provide information on any aspect of [CBC's policies and procedures and are here to assist our policy holders in any way that we can...However, for personal enquiries, we also rely on the related operational depart- ment to become involved. Working as a team we can usually resolve even the most difficult impasse."" Providing an optional route for responding 10 public questions or com- models must be secured to the vehicle with a tether strap. Child safety seats are designed for toddlers from 20 to 40 pounds (nine to 18 kg) and must be affixed to the car body with a tether Strap. Booster seats are for children who have outgrown other restraints. These will improve their view while riding in the car and help Position the lap belt properly over the hips. JEEP FACTORY AUTHORIZED “MSRP” SALE" $142,750 *Destination P vce & PDI $598 Stock 90-5016 @ Powerlul 4 litre in-line 6 cyt. gy 10 spoke aluminum wheels Rw @ 5 speed transmission with overdrive m Root rack gw Power steering and brakes gg Rear window wiper/washer @ Factory AM/FM stereo m Electric rear window detroster gm Chrysler 7 year/1t5 km warranty @ 2.56/75 R15 ures $19,882 * You Don't Z., to Cross the Bridge To Get The Best Guarantee B.C.’s Lowest Prices “NET OF ALL PROGRAMS—PRICES INCLUDES FREIGHT & PDI MOUNTVIEW 1600 MARINE DR., N.VAN. 980-3431 plaints is not a new concept, but it was in 1974 when the department was created. “We knew we had a role to fulfill to meet our cus- tomers’ meeds, but the standard of customer service 1S years ago was not at the sophisticated level it is now,” notes Rogan. The corporation was gen- uinely evolving ‘leading edge’ service in this arena at the time, and it took two years to reach effective standards. During this span, the policy holders were in- Strumental in suggesting changes to ICBC. 25 - Friday, February 16, 1990 - North Shore News YV E S Indeed, in the period be- tween 1977) to 1979, the public was directly responsi- ble for 31 major changes in legistation improving Autoplan coverage and alieviating specific concerns. As Rogan recalls it, back then the first callers were a bit skeptical when told that ICBC would investigate any complaints, plus consider any suggestions for improv- ed service and coverage. However, by adopting a pol- icy of informing customers of any progress or im- provements along the way, his department gradually gained its current level of credibility. Rogan doesn’t toot his own horn about the depart- ment’s stature, but it can be judged by the fact that other crown corporations in Canada, and U.S. insurers, come to scrutinize the way ICBC does things. The word is out... While the type of issues handled by the PED run the gamut from disputed ac- counts to decisions on claims liability, there are a few common concerns that keep popping up. Next week's column will look at those. HAVE AN ICBC INJURY CLAIM? {CBC settles claims every day, you don't. Get a professional on your side. Call Terence Harris, Lawyer 987-3843 evenings Petersan Stark & Fowler iCBC wants to settle claims quickly and for as little as reasonably possible, you don't. 736-9811 daily for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION 1988 Viv Vanagon 7 Pass. 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