ICBC prepared for 2010 Winter Games

Plans in place for customers and 250,000 visitors

VANCOUVER , Feb. 9 /CNW/ - The countdown is on! Lower Mainland residents are about to welcome 250,000 visitors to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Road closures have started and our roads are going to be busier than ever.

ICBC is a proud Official Supporter of the Games, and in anticipation of an increase in claims during February we want our customers to know that we're ready to provide an excellent customer experience for any residents and visitors who may need our assistance during the 2010 Winter Games period.

    
        -  Our 24/7 Dial-a-Claim service will have additional resources
           available for customers, including language interpretation.

        -  Visitors' claims will be handled by dedicated teams in
           approximately 20 claim centres.

        -  As of February 1st, ICBC's Whistler satellite office began
           operating as a full service claim centre, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
           daily, five-days-a-week for the duration of the 2010 Winter Games.
           Staff will also be available on a 24/7 basis for emergency claims
           matters.

        -  As we have during previous times of high claims volumes, we will
           redeploy staff as required to ensure we provide excellent customer
           experience to all our customers.
    

While ICBC is well prepared to deal with the anticipated increase in claims in February, there are some important things drivers should keep in mind:

    
        -  Your insurance: You may need to update your vehicle use, territory
           and coverage if you're working as a volunteer during the Games; if
           you plan to rent out your vehicle; if you plan to rent or borrow
           someone else's vehicle or have guests that will be driving your
           vehicle. Talk to your Autoplan broker about your situation and
           insurance coverage.

           If you have out of province guests who are bringing their own
           vehicle, be sure to remind them to review their coverage with
           their insurance company or agent back home prior to arriving in
           B.C.

        -  Your claim: If you're unfortunate enough to be in a crash
           involving a non-resident, it's important that you record as much
           information as possible to help your claim go smoothly. Record the
           licence plate of any other vehicles involved, along with the
           driver's address and phone numbers (including their temporary
           contact details while in B.C.), email address and, most
           importantly, the name of their insurance company and their policy
           number. ICBC's At the scene of a crash claims card can help you
           recall the pertinent information you'll need. The cards are
           available from Autoplan brokers, ICBC claim centres or can be
           downloaded from
           http://www.icbc.com/claims/How-claim/claims_card.pdf
    

The 2010 Winter Games will be a party the likes of which we have never seen before, but it's important that we all have a good time responsibly. You can help make these the safest Winter Games ever by providing your guests with a safe ride home - encourage the use of transit, designated drivers and have taxi numbers on hand. Also be a good host and show your smart driving skills - slow down and keep your distance from other vehicles and pedestrians.

For more tips on having a safe and enjoyable 2010 Winter Games experience, visit http://www.icbc.com/about%20ICBC/news_room/2010news_releases/jan2010No.4p

For further information: Media contacts: Mark Jan Vrem, [phone]