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Financial, -Insitutions3 Minister Brian Charlton recently introduced 1 The Rcad Aheadp' a statement of polieles te reform the auto insurance system. in Ontario. 70Ur reforms honour commmitments made this past September te provide fair, afor e, accessible auto insurance, within a- private delivery system," Charlton- told the Liegisiature. "This governmen's changes will transform an, inadequate auto insurance acheme into one that is «unique in Canada, a breakthrough that combines the best features of a court-based system with the ad'antages of no-fault benefits.0 »To date, 18 insurers serving 50 per cent of Ontario driveraâ have applied for, or implemented, premium reductions. The reforme, inluding an enriched compensation package, wiil net have a significant effect on premiums. The new plan provides compensation for economc lasse through automatic benefits te al people injured in automobile accidents. The new benefits package includes indexd incarne replacement* benefits with a higher ceiling covering more than 90 per cent of fuil-time earners, up from 75 per cent under the previous plan. As, well, lifetime caps on rehabilitation and long-term cars benefits wil ,be removed; death benefits enhanced, and recognition of the lat earning capacity of students and others in spécial circuinstances. Highlights include: 0 maimum weekly income replacement benefits for earners injured in automobile accidents increased form $600 te $1,000; o. indexation of incarne replacement benefits and the weekly. ceiing te the, Consumer PricesIndex; o removal of *500,000 lifetime caps on benefits for rehabilitation and car.; o indexation of the montlily care limit te, the Consumer Price Index; and Peapples predlicts moderate rise in vehicle sales in '92 On Jan. 13, General Motors cf Canada president and general manager George A. Peapples forecast a moderate-;rise in the sale of new vehicles in Canada this year. "TIi. continuing decine in the trend-setting Bank of Canada rate and the moderation in the inflation rate are encouraging signa for real growth in the Canadianeconomy te the latter part of 1992., "H owever, even theseý positive developments, could ha eout- weighed by high unemployment, fragile consumer confidence throughout North Amenica, a stalledU.S. economy and relatively high levels of personal debt."o ,Peapples predicted total industry -new vehicle sales in 1992 would range hatween 1.325 million and 1.335 million unita, an increase of thr.e te, four per cent over the comparable figures in 1992. He said passenger car sales could reach 910,000 units, with truckdeliveries totalling 425,000 units,. 1 Peapples predicted that GM would. perform hatter than the industiy this year, with sales of 300,000 te 310,000-passenger cars andÏ 120,000 te, 150,000 trucks. 1This,..represents an increase for. GM over its 1991 sales of ine per cent for both cars and trucks. Peapples said he based his predictions on three factors: attractive new products, strong carry-over models and avail- ablility of adlvanced rdc safety attributes such.a suppplementsl imflatable rest- raints (air baga) and- anti-lock braking systems (ABS). For the 1992 model year, GMl offers driver-aide 'air- baga as standard. equipment on 24 car limes, and has plans to instal driver-aide and passenger-side air bags on all of GMfs North Amnerican-designed cars by the 1994 model year. wedges, sand, facial tissues, spare tire, wheel wrench, -tire jack, pliers, flashlight, flares, battery jumper cables, gasoline antifreeze and an, extra set of keys are al important pieces of equipment that should be kept in your vehicle. 0 doubling of the death benefit of a spouse from $25,000 te, a minimum of $50,000 anid a reare d-to-income maximum of $200,000. More people will ha able te sue for pain and suffering, and other non-economie basses, such as Ias of erjoyment of life. The current threshold, that requires that injuries ha "seriaus and permanent and physical in nature" before a victim can sue, has been eliminated. Autemnatic accident benefits for economic loeses will ha provided for il those injured. Ail accident victime not totally',at-fault will ha abi. to-sue for panand suffering, subject te an indexed *15,000 deductible. "Three times more people will ha able te sue than in the current system, including those suffering psychological *injuries," Charlton said. Highlights include: e removal ,cf good drivers from facility association;, 0 measures te, improve consumer informa 'tion;- and *strengthened regulation. te, improve monitoring of the In the longer term, the government plans: * phased introduction cf a uniform _ non-discrimatory industry-wide classification plan. * deangieie on the type of driving behaviour that warranta placement in facility association; e insurance available, at market rates% te aU i rierswith dlean records; and e igh quality standards for rehabilitation service for thoe irjured in automobile accidents. Members of the public wanting more information about the reforma should cail the public enqCUne. lime hithe Toronto area, the. number is 250-7250; tbroughout the rest of the province, the number is 1-800-668-0128. 1988 TOPAZ, 4 cyI. auto, PS, PB, air, sterea, silver with grey interior. _______$55888 1989 XL AEROSTAR, fully Ioaded, must b. seen. This, Weeks Special $109995 WMMTY FRE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY2% 1892 PAGE 17 'The, Roa Ahead' roposes Take the time to clear your w indà-9 refor of a to dowranJ ............ Col.w............ ~aidsesurê1-fo t.- k M. To. ensure a safe tip, the Ontario Provincial. Police is recommending motoriets crr several important items with themn. To prevent -a'rear-wheel-drive car froým'becoming stuck in the. snow, a bag of sand could ha placed -in the trunk te improve> To help free a stuck vehicle, sand, roc-sale, kitty litter or ashes, fromn a container in the trunk, could be sprinkled in front of the drive wheels te allow the. tires te grp the surface. A piece. cf carpet or a car floor mat could aIso ha used te keep the tires from spinning in the snow or on ice. Other cold weather travel aida can ha found around the home. They include: a blanket, nn 1989 THUNDERSIRD, white with blue interior, fuIIy Iaaded, low km, "Must mi"r sp.c~ $1 0,495 I - I. - 1987 TEMPO, beige, 5 speed, air, stereo, Iow kmj, super cleann. $4'222cotfe old jacket, gloves, boots, matche-s ,and an empty col!'.. can te hold a candle for warmth. A, pencil and pape;, coins f'or a pay phone, and a .'Cail Police' sig can ha used .te, alert others tit you need help. .In addition, a driver should carry, aWsnow -brush, .an' ice scraper, extra windshield-washer fluid, 'battery booster cables, a first-aid it and emergency wann triangles, flareps or.lights. InhdyspriorteatrP,the OPP recoimmenda "that a car ha checked for maimrum operating efficiency te reduce the risik of the driver haing stranded.' And while travelling,,the gas tank should b. kept at least half-full te limit condensation in the gas lin. and te provide reserve fuel te keep the. engitie running in an emergency. 1989 CAVAUER WAGON PS, PB. air, reai dlean., $59888 1989 REUANT LE, PS, PB. air 4 door, IOWklI.$5995 CHRYiSLE R HMD GECRS R m W USE CAR LO OUTeý'