Dear Editor:
Re: ICBC’s 6.4 per cent rate hike effective Nov. 1.
I, like many others, am appalled at this massive proposed increase.
First off, it is a severe slap in the face of all insured low or fixed income people who are stressed enough financially. (Pensioners got only a 0.3 per cent increase in Old Age Security benefit this fall.)
It is also questionable whether ICBC is run efficiently, and being a monopoly seems to contribute to this idea.
If there is to be a reasonable increase, I would hope that adequate provisions are made to reward those who have extensive safe driving, no claims records and come down much harder on today’s biggest contributor to accidents by far – distracted drivers. The current fines of $368 are not nearly adequate. These people should have their vehicles confiscated for a month or two – maybe that would wake them up – and fines of $ 1,000 for a first offence.
Jerome Henen
North Vancouver
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