Media Releases 2008

February 14, 2008

Report on Driver Fatigue Impairment released: Road safety experts urge drivers to be alert this long weekend

TORONTO – The Highway Safety Roundtable today released important information on the dangerous effects of driver fatigue in a report entitled, “Working Together to Understand Driver Fatigue.” The report contains research and information presented at a symposium last spring to mark Driver Fatigue Impairment Awareness Day. The report is now available to the public at http://www.ibc.ca/en/Car_Insurance/Driver_Fatigue/.

The report includes presentation materials from leading road safety experts, including Dr. Alison Smiley, President of Human Factors North, and a leading researcher in driver behaviour and accident analysis; Yoassry Elzohairy, Senior Advisor, Ontario Ministry of Transportation; and Dr. Henry Moller of the University Health Network and the University of Toronto Sleep Research Unit.

Mark Yakabuski, President & CEO of Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), and Chair of the Highway Safety Roundtable, said: “The timing of the release of this report couldn’t be better with Ontario’s new February long weekend approaching. For many Canadians, long weekends mean more time spent in the car. We want to educate Canadians about the effects of driver fatigue before they get behind the wheel this weekend.”

He added: “Driver fatigue is a serious road safety issue that kills 400 Canadians every year. Also, according to a 2005 study, one in five Canadians – 4 million people – admitted to nodding off or falling asleep at the wheel at least once in the previous 12 months. It is for this reason that the Highway Safety Roundtable is so dedicated to the issue of driver fatigue, and is committed to bringing this valuable and potentially life-saving information to the public.”

The Highway Safety Roundtable includes the Brewers Association of Canada, Canada Safety Council, Canadian Automobile Association, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Railway Association of Canada and Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national trade association of the property and casualty insurance industry. Its member companies provide nearly 95% of the private home, car and business insurance sold in Canada.

-30-

For more information or to schedule an interview with Mr. Yakabuski, please contact: Ellen Woodger (416) 483-2358 or James Geuzebroek (416) 362-2031,x4364.