Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Road dangers rise on holiday weekend
Two or three people are killed and 115 injured in road crashes during a typical August long weekend in Manitoba.
Fatigue, heavy traffic and too much sun can lead to poor decisions by those who normally drive responsibly. And when so many more vehicles are on the road, speeding and impaired driving become even larger problems.
Let’s make this a non-typical long weekend by being better drivers.
- Buckle up
- Be patient
- Don’t drink and drive
- Think ahead
“When you’re behind the wheel, you have to be extra vigilant and extra patient to make sure the weekend stays a safe one for you and yours,” says Lou Gervino, Driver Education Manager at Manitoba Public Insurance.
Lou advises trying to stay off the highways when traffic is heaviest.
Be patient
“If you can’t avoid the busiest periods, resign yourself to the long lineups,” says Lou. “Don’t be one of those drivers who jumps out of line to try to move up a space or two. A lot of head-on collisions are the result of impatience overcoming common sense.”
Lou, who appears daily on The 60-Second Driver on CTV, says even one drink is too many before driving. Hours of fun in the sun, particularly during our current heat wave, can magnify the effects of alcohol.
“Alcohol is a depressant, and if you’re driving home late you are probably already tired,” he says. “Fatigue and alcohol make a dangerous cocktail when you’re driving.”
Have a good weekend.
For more information, check out our website and watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV.
