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Zero Crash Month Winner is....NOT Prince George

By 250 News

The results are in and Kamloops, Kitimat, Fernie, Port McNeill, and Wells are the community winners in this year's Zero Crash Month in October.
As well, seven individual British Columbians were selected as prize winners from the nearly 55,000 who took the safe-driving challenge in October.
The grand prize was $35,000 toward the purchase of a new car. ICBC, the provincial government and local police forces designated
October as Zero Crash Month and challenged communities and individuals to reduce motor vehicle crashes. "I am pleased to see the dedication and commitment to road safety that communities across the province showed during the campaign," said the Honourable John Les, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. "This government is committed to making B.C. roads safer and will continue to look
at innovative ways to improve safety." 

Prince George was one of 172 communities that signed up for the Challenge. Communities with the largest percentage decrease in crashes involving their residents - when compared to a five-year average for October - won road safety grants. 

The winners in each category are:


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Community                  Population                Road safety grant                        Percentage  reduction
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Kamloops                  over 40,000                      $35,000                                                    30 %
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Kitimat                  10,001 to 40,000                  $25,000                                                     47 %
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Fernie                      5,001 to 10,000                  $18,000                                                     48 %
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Port McNeill             1,501 to 5,000                  $10,000                                                      74 %
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Wells                           1,500 or less                    $5,000                                                    100 %
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ICBC was predicting 22,000 crashes would take place this October. However, preliminary results show approximately 3,600 fewer crashes - a 16 per cent drop - in a month that usually sees a large number of collisions that are partially due to the arrival of poor weather conditions. These crash numbers will increase as people continue to report October collisions to ICBC. "Crashes affect everyone and every community," said Paul Taylor, ICBC president and CEO. "The preliminary results are great news and show that individuals and communities can make a difference in reducing the harm on our roads. The challenge now is for individuals to look long term and think about driving safely all the time and that will help to keep insurance rates low and stable." 

Individual prize winners could not have any at-fault collisions or traffic convictions for the month of October. 

In addition to the grand prize, there were five sets of new tires worth up to $2,000 each and a new $1,000 bicycle. 

The 2005 winners were:

- Mel Farrell, Lake Country - $35,000 toward the purchase of a new car from one of B.C.'s New Car Dealers. 

- Gale Hills, Telkwa; Barbara Paugh, Cranbrook; Loretta Kane, Richmond; Raymond Briede, Maple Ridge; and Crystall Angela Borton,
Victoria - $2,000 set of Nokian tires, courtesy Kal Tire 

- Roy Ehlers, Penticton - $1,000 bicycle, courtesy Dizzy Cycles.



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