Winnipeg, Manitoba — January 24, 2014 — Manitoba has seen close to 30,000 collision claims filed with Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) over the last six weeks, and the a statement from the insurers says the thousands of crashes in the province are the direct result of motorists driving too fast on ice/snow-covered roads.
MPI recently launched its “Take it Slow†advertising campaign ─ TV, radio, outdoor and web to heighten motorists’ awareness about driving to road conditions. Road safety tips on this topic can also be found on MPI’s website at mpi.mb.ca.
“Driving is challenging under the best of road and weather conditions,†said MaryAnn Kempe, vice-president of Corporate & Community Relations, Manitoba Public Insurance. “Winter weather conditions ─ extreme cold, heavy snow, slush, freezing rain ─ can change dramatically during a very short period of time. Drivers need to adjust just as quickly. By doing so, a collision could be avoided.â€
Based on Manitoba Public Insurance collision data, driving too fast for road conditions is clearly a contributing factor in collisions. Speeding accounted for 34 per cent of all people killed in a collision in 2011 and 17 per cent of all serious injuries sustained in collisions in 2011.
