Forty insurance claims due to ice falling from local bridges

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The season’s first snowfall brought with it plenty of slips, slides and crashes on local roads and now ICBC is breaking down how much all those fender benders are going to cost the insurance agency.

In total, it says 30 people have filed claims to report damage from falling ice on the Alex Fraser Bridge. Additionally, 10 people have reported damage from falling ice on the Port Mann. The insurance agency says it will review these claims, with most of the damage affecting windshields.

Yesterday, it says its Dial-a-Claim call centre took 4,366 calls which is a 13 per cent increase in volume compared to the first Monday in December 2015 when 3,848 calls were taken. ICBC stresses it’s important to note that not every call resulted in a filed claim.

About 78 per cent of yesterday’s call came from across the Lower Mainland and 11 per cent were from Vancouver Island. The rest was made up from other parts of BC.

With more snow in the forecast later this week, both ICBC and police are warning people to slow down and to drive for the conditions. This morning much of yesterday’s slush had frozen over which led to icy and dicey commutes for many people.

If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle or an all-wheel drive car you may have a little easier time getting around in these wintry conditions, but your stopping power is no different than anyone else.

This warning also applies to pedestrians who are being told to avoid walking on the street to get around icy patches or snow. Many communities around the Lower Mainland will have crews out overnight to salt and sand major thoroughfares as temperatures flirt with the -7 degree mark.

“[Vancouver] takes snow removal seriously and has a comprehensive snow response plan in place. Our fleet includes 44 trucks that salt roads and there are 1,500 tonnes of salt in stock. We added four new brine units this year that can spray more area in less time. Specialized equipment is also available to salt bikeways,” the city says in a statement.

Home and business owners in Vancouver are also being reminded they are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their property by 10 a.m. after a snowfall. If they don’t, they could be fined.

No need to idle your car

Did you warm up the car this morning before you hit the road? When it drops below freezing, many people let their cars idle on the street or in the driveway to let it come up to temperature but a local mechanic says it’s a myth that you’ll damage your car if you drive off when it’s still cold.

“It’s not necessary. Just start it and let it run a minute as you scrape your windows, turn the heater on, and away you go,” says Bernie Pawlik with Pawlik Automotive in Vancouver.

He points out that, generally, it doesn’t get frigid enough here to worry about running a cold engine and its parts will be well lubricated by the time you pull out of your parking spot. “It may still be cold inside, but the car will start and work perfectly well. It’s fine in these temperatures.”

Pawlik says if you property maintain your car, including regular oil changes, you’ve got nothing to worry about when the weather turns frosty.

BC Hydro sees spike in usage

Between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. yesterday, BC Hydro says demand was about 10 per cent higher than it was last Monday.

Heating your home can account for up to half of your bill, points out Mora Scott with the utility. Some things you can do to lower your usage includes washing clothes in cold water, and investing in a programmable thermostat.

Scott says Hydro is getting ready for peak demand over the next couple of days. “To put this into context, the highest peak demand on record was observed in November of 2006 when consumption reached 10,113 megawatts between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., so we could get quite close to that.”

To help save money, you’re encouraged to wash your clothes in cold water and to consider throwing on a sweater and some socks.

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