Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

David Eby Says ICBC Shift Involves Rewarding Good Driving, Penalizing Poor Driving

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Mar, 2018 12:54 PM
    VICTORIA — Major shifts in direction are being considered to ensure good drivers in British Columbia receive lower insurance rates, says the minister responsible for the province's public auto insurer.
     
     
    David Eby said the government introduced an online survey Monday that poses questions about the public mood to realign coverage at the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia in order to offer major incentives for low-risk drivers by changing discount and penalty provisions.
     
     
    The proposed changes are part of the government's plan to modernize the Crown corporation and restore its dismal finances, which Eby has described as a "dumpster fire." The provincial budget forecasts a $1.3-billion deficit at ICBC this year.
     
     
    Eby said the government wants to hear from people in B.C. about the government's plans for change. The public consultation ends April 5.
     
     
    Last month, he said the government will introduce legislation to change ICBC, including a $5,500 cap on claim payouts for minor pain and suffering.
     
     
    "The question is, who is a bad driver and how much more should they pay," Eby said. "Is it someone who has two speeding tickets? It is someone who has at-fault accidents? Is it someone who has a single infraction with excessive speed?"
     
     
    The survey asks for input on changing policies for at-fault crashes, discounts and penalties.
     
     
    Under the proposed changes, one at-fault accident would be allowed without penalty after 20 years of safe driving, instead of the current 13 years. After an at-fault accident, it would also take drivers 10 years to return to their pre-accident discount rate status instead of the current three years.
     
     
    The proposal includes increased driver penalties and risk points for excessive speeding offences.
     
     
    "Car insurance rates in our province aren't fair," Eby says in a video on the government website. "Low-risk drivers with perfect records are paying more than they should. High-risk drivers who are driving up costs for everyone aren't paying enough. We want to fix this problem."
     
     
    The government says the auto insurance rating system is 30 years old and has not been updated in 10 years.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Announces Investigation Into Harassment Allegation Involving MP Erin Weir

    NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Announces Investigation Into Harassment Allegation Involving MP Erin Weir
    He says an independent investigator has been appointed to look into the allegation and that while Weir will remain a member of the NDP caucus, his duties will be curtailed pending the outcome.

    NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Announces Investigation Into Harassment Allegation Involving MP Erin Weir

    B.C.'s Senior's Advocate Says Elderly Still Not Receiving Minimum Hours Of Care

    Isobel Mackenzie says provincial guidelines require 3.36 hours of daily direct care services such as bathing or therapy for each senior but data shows just 15 per cent of all facilities met that standard last year.

    B.C.'s Senior's Advocate Says Elderly Still Not Receiving Minimum Hours Of Care

    'Grind Yourself, Go Kill Him': Telus Sorry For Badly Translated French Tweets

    Telus's Francois Gratton released a statement apologizing to all the country's francophone population, and stating the tweets should never have been posted.

    'Grind Yourself, Go Kill Him': Telus Sorry For Badly Translated French Tweets

    New BC App Alerts Bystanders Trained In CPR To Nearby Cardiac Arrests

    New BC App Alerts Bystanders Trained In CPR To Nearby Cardiac Arrests
    B.C. has launched the first provincewide smartphone app aimed at turning bystanders into potential lifesavers of heart attack victims.

    New BC App Alerts Bystanders Trained In CPR To Nearby Cardiac Arrests

    Shooting At Chilliwack Home, Believed To Be Targeted, Kills 1 Man

    Shooting At Chilliwack Home, Believed To Be Targeted, Kills 1 Man
      Police Says 28-year-old Was Found With Gunshot Wounds And Later Died Hospital

    Shooting At Chilliwack Home, Believed To Be Targeted, Kills 1 Man

    Grande Prairie Man, 34, Charged After Teenage Boys Lured Over Social Media

    Grande Prairie Man, 34, Charged After Teenage Boys Lured Over Social Media
    Police say an Alberta man accused of posing as a teenage girl to lure teenage boys on social media has also lived in Kelowna.

    Grande Prairie Man, 34, Charged After Teenage Boys Lured Over Social Media