ICBC is also asking people to pay traffic tickets or other fines via phone or mail

The cancellations will affect about 15,000 road test over the next two weeks

ICBC is taking other measures to protect the health, safety of customers, partners and employees

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – ICBC is suspending all driver road tests and taking additional precautionary measures because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision is effective immediately and follows public health recommendations around social distancing.

“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, ICBC is taking a number of measures to protect the health and safety of its customers, partners and employees,” the Crown corporation says in a release.

All motorcycle, passenger, and commercial road tests are cancelled until further notice.

As the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving, we want to assure you that we continue to take steps to ensure the health and safety of our employees, customers and partners. Learn more about what we're doing, and how you can help prevent the spread of Covid-19: https://t.co/sJ05jVM1jM pic.twitter.com/px1V0uZ7vc — ICBC (@icbc) March 13, 2020

“ICBC will reassess the situation in two weeks, taking into account public health recommendations and other operational considerations at that time,” ICBC says.

All customers scheduled to take road tests over the next weeks are being notified that their appointment has been cancelled.

ICBC will try to reschedule all cancelled test once it returns to full operations.

The public insurer undertakes about 7,500 road tests a week across the province. The cancellations will affect about 15,000 such test over the next two weeks.

ICBC is also directing any customers who are sick or have travelled outside Canada in the past 14 days not to enter any of its offices, and is turning away customers if necessary.

The Crown corporation is also asking people to pay traffic tickets or other fines via phone or mail, not in person, as well as limiting the number of customers in office waiting areas.

ICBC is also increasing cleaning and sanitization in all of its facilities, as well as asking COVID-19 screening questions at driver licensing offices.

At claim centres, ICBC is restricting appointments and drop-in visits to urgent transactions only.

It is also suspending walk-in service for vehicle insurance customers at its head office.