Smith Petrie Carr & Scott has been honoured with the Independent Brokers Association of Ontario's Award of Excellence
for 2008. Read More »
At right, Vice President SPCS Greg Janes accepts the IBAO's award of excellence for 2008.
DEER - VEHICLE COLLISIONS
Deer and other big-game populations are on the rise. At the same time, the number of vehicles on the road goes up every year.
The combination of animals with traffic has led to a rise in serious collisions.
Collisions with wildlife are a hazard throughout the year, but they start to peak in the summer and fall. The majority of
these crashes occur between dusk and dawn, when visibility is low.
One out of every 18 motor vehicle collisions involves a wild animal. Ninety percent occur on two-lane roads outside of urban areas.
In 2003, wild animals were involved in four fatal collisions, 510 injury collisions, and 13,321 property damage collisions.
Ottawa has the province's highest number of collisions involving wildlife, with about 1,000 reported each year. Most involve deer.
In the city of Ottawa, Roger Stevens Drive, Highway 417, Dunrobin Road and Robertson Road at Haanel Drive are common accident sites
involving deer, city statistics show.
Breeding season and the onset of winter are the two biggest factors in making autumn a dangerous time for deer on roadways, said
Kerry Coleman, a Kemptville-based supervisor with the Ministry of Natural Resources.
"Love throws caution to the wind, to some degree," he said. "They're crossing roads and the last thing they've got in mind is safety.
They're more intent on the objective at the end of their trip."
Vigilance is the first and best defense, especially when driving on unfamiliar rural roads. Watch out for warning signs that indicate
high risk areas. Ask passengers to help by scanning both sides of the roadway. Use your high beams when no traffic is approaching and
never over-drive your headlights - you need to see an animal in time to avoid hitting it.
Should you spot an animal beside the road, slow down until you have safely passed it. Expect more animals to follow. Animals near the
roadside may bolt suddenly, so approach with caution. Turn on your flashers to warn other drivers.
If the animal is in your path, brake firmly but do not swerve to avoid it. Sound your horn in a series of short bursts to frighten it
away. Provided you can slow down with control, steer around the animal but stay on the highway. Watch out for oncoming traffic.
Sources: Ministry of Transportation, Ottawa Citizen & Canada Safety Council
Past Articles
Are you driving a thief magnet?
Are you driving a thief magnet?
The Honda Civic has once again topped the list of the most popular vehicle for car thieves,
according to a list compiled by the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door tops the list of the most frequently stolen vehicles.
The 1999 and 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door was the most frequently stolen vehicle for the third year in a row.
Following the top two models was the 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STi 4-door, which also "won" the number one spot on the highest theft claims costs list.
Richard Dubin of the Insurance Bureau of Canada told Canada AM on Wednesday that these vehicles are popular with auto thieves because they all
lack an approved electronic immobilizer.
"You've got cars like the (Acura) Integra, the (Audi) Quattro, the (Subaru) Impreza and the (Honda) Civic - these are cars that are sporty
and desirable, so if they're easy to steal they're going to take them," Dubin said.
An electronic immobilizer requires a special key or small electronic device to start a vehicle's engine.
When activated, it shuts off one or more parts of the engine's electrical system. This might include the starter, ignition or fuel system.
The device disarms when an authorized security code is received from a transponder during an attempt to start the engine.
Three Dodge Caravans made the top 10 list. Dubin said these vehicles are popular because they are easy to strip and sell for parts.
"Recyclers or wreckers are stealing them in order to sell their transmissions and engines because these cars are 13 or 14 years old and they
need replacement parts," he said.
Dubin said while some the popular vehicles are stripped for parts, some of the sportier models, such as the Audi, are exported to other countries
and sold to unsuspecting consumers.
"They also use these vehicles strictly for transportation, getting from A to B, but there is a significant amount of organized crime involved in
all of this," Dubin said.
Dubin recommends purchasing an "after market" electronic immobilizer that retails for around $400. He says don't leave your car unattended with
the keys in the ignition and "always protect your keys."
"If you have an immobilizer and they get your keys, you're immobilizer is no use to you. Even in your house, don't leave them where you can see
them in the kitchen window because that will incite break ins. Don't leave extra keys in the car and park your car at night in well-lit areas," he said.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates auto theft costs each policyholder an additional $48 on their insurance premium.
Auto theft costs Canadians approximately $1.2 billion per year when health care, court, policing, legal and out-of-pocket costs, such as
deductibles, are taken into consideration.
"Car thieves have absolutely no regard for public safety and the rules of the road. Every year approximately 40 people die and 65 are
injured as a direct result of auto theft. When it's in the hands of a thief, a stolen car is like a loaded gun,"Ý the Insurance Bureau of Canada's website reads.
If a kitchen fire broke out in your home, cottage or boat, would you know what to do? Find Out »
IBC applauds new Ontario seat belt rules
IBC applauds new Ontario seat belt rules
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has endorsed proposed amendments to Ontario's Highway Traffic Act
that would require one seatbelt for each passenger in a vehicle.
"We applaud [Ontario Transportation] Minister Donna Cansfield for taking swift action to address this
serious road safety concern" Mark Yakabuski, IBC's vice-president, federal affairs and Ontario, said in
a press release.
"Ontario's road safety record is the envy of the world precisely because of forward looking legislation
like the amendments introduced today. We are confident that today's changes will help prevent further
injury and death on our roads, and we fully encourage the legislative assembly to enact the bill as
quickly as possible."
The McGuinty government introduced the amendments to the Highway Traffic Act on Oct. 16. In 1976,
Ontario was the first North American jurisdiction to require vehicle drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts.
"This government made it mandatory for all children to be secured in a child car safety seat or
booster seat when traveling," Cansfield said in a press release announcing the proposed amendments.
"We're taking it one step further. We want to prevent people from getting into a vehicle that doesn't
have enough seatbelts."
A recent survey by Transport Canada found Ontario has the second-highest rate of seatbelt use in urban
areas in Canada - nearly 93%. That's above the national average of just over 91%.
At the same time, the latest statistics show about one third of all drivers and passengers killed in
motor vehicle collisions were not wearing seatbelts.
"For every 1% increase in seatbelt usage, five lives are saved," Cansfield said. "That's why we
introduced legislation today to ensure that everyone who gets in a vehicle on an Ontario road is safely secured."
Comparing Mortgage and Term Insurance
Comparing Mortgage and Term Insurance
Term Insurance
Mortgage Insurance
I pay the premiums so I own the policy, right?
Yes. You own the policy and you name your beneficiaries.
No. You are part of a group policy and the lender is the beneficiary.
Is the coverage flexible?
Yes. You choose the amount of coverage you want regardless of your mortgage balance.
You can increase or decrease your coverage, renew your coverage and convert to permanent protection.
If you renegotiate or pay down your mortgage, or sell your home, you can continue your coverage.
No. The lender will only insure you for the amount of your mortgage.
You can't alter, renew or convert the policy. If you move your mortgage to another lender, you can not transfer
your policy.
Your coverage ends when the mortgage is paid off or ends.
Can my beneficiaries use the proceeds from the policy for something other than paying off the mortgage?
Yes. Upon death, the proceeds go directly to your beneficiary who then decides how to best use the money.
No. Upon death the benefit goes directly to the lender to pay off the mortgage.
Is the coverage guaranteed?
Yes. Your insurance and premiums are guaranteed for the life of the policy. Only you can cancel or make changes to your policy.
No. Your premium and benefits are not guaranteed. Your lender can make changes at any time.
I look after my health and don't smoke. Will that make a difference to my premiums?
Yes. The premiums you pay are based on your age, health and smoking status.
No. Since mortgage is usually provided in a group plan you pay the same premium as everyone else.
