What’s New: In Brief (August 15, 2007)

Pembridge Insurance Company is maintaining its investment as a Full Partner of the Broker Identity Program(BIP) for 2007, according to the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC).
We are pleased to support brokers across Canada in their successful bid to communicate to consumers, legislators and regulators the value they bring, Bob Tisdale, President and Chief Operating Officer of Pembridge, said in a release. Speaking with a united voice under the banner of the BIPPER is very effective in influencing decision makers regarding issues affecting the industry.
IBAC Chief Executive Officer Dan Danyluk added: We are pleased that yet another insurer supports the common message being delivered by brokers under the BIPPER umbrella. Pembridge is a valuable partner to brokers.

Right-hand-drive vehicles are more than 40% more likely to get into a crash than similar left-hand-drive vehicles, an ICBC study found.
The study took a look at whether right-hand configuration leads to an increased risk of crash and whether or not less protection is provided than left-hand configuration cars of a similar year, according to a release.
“In the study we found that the average time for a crash to occur after first purchasing a right-hand-drive vehicle was 223 days which is 68 per cent sooner than for left-hand-drive vehicles, which was 705 days,” Peter Cooper, ICBC Manager Performance Analysis Services, said in a release. “Based on an analysis of the claims data, there was no evidence to suggest that the right-hand-drive vehicles offer less protection.”