AUTOMOTIVES EVERY WRECK tells a story ... Queensboro facility. Photo submitted this crumpled car is one of many lined up row after row at ICBC’s Salvage operations pump millions back into Autoplan RECYCLING 1S_ nothing new at ICBC — in fact, it has been an important part of our business since we issued the first Autoplan policy in 1974, By Ken Hardie Insurance Corporation of B.C. Each year, ICBC’s salvage operations around B.C. pump millions of dollars back into the Autoplan fund by recycling thou- sands of vehicles which have ei- ther been written off, or stolen and then recovered after we've paid the owner’s claim. Some of the units end up at auto wreckers, who place bids on those they want to haul away and break down into reusable parts. Others go to ICBC’s Research and Training Centre which uses them to try out new repair tech- niques or in crash barrier testing. Still others, too badly damaged or too old to be of any value go off to the crusher. At any given time, our main fa- cility in Queensboro has around 1,500 cars, trucks, vans and buses lined up row after row. Queensboro has become a favorite for TV news crews who use it as a backdrop for feature items on traffic safety and commentaries on the rising number of traffic accidents. Each wreck tells a story. Some have badly mangled metal but very few damages in the passenger compartment, proof there is “room to live’? in even the most serious crashes if the people inside wear their safety belts. As you would expect, this in- crease in accidents has meant an unwelcome business boom for ICBC’s salvage operations. The Queensboro yard has been bursting at the seams, to the point that a second major facility has had to be established in Ab- botsford. The statistics reflect that growth. Last year, our then-five salvage yards sold 23,046 vehicles and recouped just over $20 mil- lion. To the end of June this year we had already sold 12,079 units for a value of $10.6 million. A quick calculation and you come up with the fact that a vehi- cle worth thousands of dollars is reduced in seconds to an average INSURANCE CORPORA OF BRITISH COU MBIA Auto Topic value of $877. Speaking of statistics, there was one in tast Sunday’s North Shore News that needs some clarifica- tion. In the Affluence & Influence feature on ICBC president Tom Holmes, he was quoted as saying that ICBC will handle 900,000 complaints this year. In fact, that STK. # 90-5171 ws Powerfui 4 litre inline 6 cyl. WB 5 spd trans with overdrive ff Power brakes & steering @ Aluminum sport wheels @ Cloth bucket seats was the number of claims Mr. Holmes says may be reported to ICBC in 1990. A point he often makes in staff meetings and speeches is that ICBC people work very hard to provide good customer service, but misunderstandings or mistakes will sometimes happen. Even if only one per cent of claims in- voive some difficulties, that still would represent 9,000 complaints this year something that highlights the size of the challenge facing our ICBC claims personnel. For the record, we're doing bet- ter than that. Of 739,000 claims handled last year, we logged 6,000 complaints. @B 225/75 R15 all terrain tires @ Electric rear window defroster @@ Factory AM/FM stereo @B Body side moulding GB Chrysier 7 yes /115 km warranty 16,952" ° “NET OF ALL PROGRAMS, FREIGHT & PO 1. $790 Dt #7496 aD BC’S LOWEST PRICES “2600. MARINE DR., NS iN. 980-3431 Friday, August 10, 1990 - North Shore News - 24 LE AT Avy ‘oS ACURA a? LEGENDARY SALE XCEPTIONAL VEHIC _VEHICLES ATEXC EXCEPTIONAL PRICES _/ 1990 INTEGRAS & 1990 LEGE NDS ALL MODELS PRICED TO CLEAR DURING OUR LEGENDARY ANNUAL CLEARANCE SALE! PRICES STARTING FROM $15, sory | Get ready for Summer Tune your Mazda! SPRING & SUMMER TUNE-UP Replace engine oil & filtersTop up all fluid levels. Wash & clean car. 9 5 Plus parts MOST MAZDA CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS 1 Battery cables & connections 2 Coolant strengtn 3 Rackator hoses 4 Heater hoses 5 All olf fevels 6 All fluid ievets 7 All tights 8 Fuel fitter 9 Air cleaner fitter 10 P.C.V. valve 11 Windshield wiper blades . co Genuine ¢ Mazda Parts & Accessories FREE 20 POINT ils SAFETY INSPECTION 12. Exhaust system 13. Steering linkage 14. Driveshatt & unrversal joints 15. Front & rear suspension 16, Shock absorbers 17, Tiresftread wear It MPLETE OVERHAULS ¢ ENGINES ¢ TRANSMISSIONS Specialized Mazda _ WE-SURROUND YOU . _WITH SATISFACTION Vancouver Island Marnot Marmota voncouverensis 550,000 people work hard fo protect Canada’s endangered species. You can help too. at. Fo: more intormcton contact Canadian Wildii#te Federation 1673 Caring Avenue Cttawa, Ontano K2A 324 (613) 725-2494 e CLUTCHES « SHOCKS