Photo: BC Transportation

When winter hit Lower Mainland roads on Monday, ICBC’s dial-a-claim volume leapt by more than 22% compared to the week before.

In total, ICBC received 3,539 calls from the Lower Mainland that day – 645 more than on Monday, Jan. 6. Across the province, 5,075 calls were received – up 24% from the 4,087 calls received seven days earlier.

But as snow continued to pile up in many communities throughout the Lower Mainland region, calls placed to ICBC fell.

Data from the Crown corporation shows about 22% fewer calls were placed on Tuesday. The next day, calls fell by another 32%.

Calls on Tuesday were still up more than 9% week-to-week. On Wednesday, they fell by just over 18% compared to the previous Wednesday. 

To date, ICBC also says it has received 141 reports of falling ice – or “ice bombs” – from three Lower Mainland bridges: the Port Mann, Alex Fraser and Golden Ears.

Over the last three days, ICBC's dial-a-claim system received 11,730 calls across British Columbia, up nearly 10% week-to-week.  

Monday was the system's busiest day of the last six for Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and North Central regions. Tuesday was busiest for the Southern Interior, which registered 140 calls, up by more than 50% week-to-week.