ICBC expected to deal with 74 crashes involving Squamish residents from May 5 to 27. In fact, only 60 people were involved in accidents during that time.
In the month of May, the Insurance Corporation of B.C. challenged British Columbians to make a concerted effort to be safe road users.
The Crown-owned insurance agency found that there was a drop in the number of accidents by close to 15 per cent when the figures are compared between this year and last year.
Each community across the province was given a crash prediction based on figures from the last five years. Communities that produced the largest percentage reduction in crashes in their population category were rewarded with a road safety grant.
Squamish was in a population group that included towns with between 10,001 and 40,000 residents.
Squamish reduced crashes by 19 per cent; however, that wasn't enough to claim the $25,000 grant as the Vancouver Island community of Sidney reduced its crash percentage even more and was awarded the money.
But Squamish can still claim victory over its Interior competitor. Squamish Mayor Ian Sutherland decided to put a challenge out to Salmon Arm, a community of similar size and similar circumstance with a major highway running through it - the Trans-Canada Highway.
Salmon Arm reduced its crash percentage by only 17 per cent so Squamish won bragging rights over the interior town. Salmon Arm residents were involved in 44 crashes while ICBC predicted 53 incidents.
Cpl. Joe Schofield of the RCMP's Sea to Sky Traffic Services said he's pleased that attention is being drawn to traffic safety.
"Anything that will raise awareness of traffic safety I'm supportive of," Schofield said.
"Issues like aggressive driving and speed need to be reported," said the traffic safety expert.
Drivers can help make the Sea to Sky Highway safer by reporting dangerous driving to the Watch 99 line. Schofield said that wireless phone users can report incidents by dialing *0099. Those who don't have a mobile phone can note the incident details and then call 1-866-WATCH99 (928-2499) once the incident reporter has access to a phone.
Indirectly related to the crash challenge, ICBC announced this week that basic automobile insurance rates won't increase in 2005.
