In recognition of National Volunteer Week, ICBC is thanking the 190 volunteers in Mission, Abbotsford, Hope and Boston Bar for their continued support in making the communities safer for everyone. Throughout the Lower Mainland, over 2,200 volunteers spent approximately 100,000 hours delivering road safety programs in 2011.

“It’s amazing to see so many British Columbians volunteer their time and come together to better their own communities,” said Kevin Falcon, Minister of Finance. “National Volunteer Week is a great opportunity for all of us to express our appreciation for their tremendous commitment to road safety and making British Columbia a safer place to live.”

“These volunteers care passionately about the safety of their neighbourhoods,” said Jill Blacklock, ICBC road safety manager. “They work tirelessly to help make Abbotsford, Mission, Hope and Boston Bar roads safer for everyone. Their dedication is remarkable and truly appreciated. On behalf of all our customers and everyone at ICBC, thank you. You are truly making a difference.”

In 2011, Speed Watch program volunteers in the local area contributed more than 650 hours to help reduce speed-related crashes in their communities. With the support of volunteers, speed-related crashes have steadily decreased in B.C. over the last five years. Volunteers use radar and speed-reader boards supplied by ICBC to show drivers how fast they’re actually traveling. Research shows that it works — over 70 per cent of drivers traveling 10km/h over the speed limit slow down when they see a speed-reader board.

In 2011, Lock Out Auto Crime program volunteers handed out more than 6,900 notices resembling parking tickets onto the windshields of vehicles, many with valuables in sight, offering common sense tips to the owners to protect them from becoming the victim of auto crime.

These volunteers also operate the Stolen Auto Recovery program, and in 2011, they scanned approximately 440,000 licence plates to help identify stolen vehicles. Each year, volunteers help recover hundreds of stolen vehicles in B.C. With their support, we’ve seen an astounding 71 per cent decrease in vehicle thefts and 64 per cent decrease in vehicle break-ins in B.C since 2003.

To learn more about how you can get involved and help keep your community safe, contact road safety coordinator Don Miller at 604-850-8083.