September 26, 2000 Saving lives, preventing injuries goals of crash scenario Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for our province's youth. That is why a group of like-minded organizations came together today to present a graphic mock collision for a group of mostly grade 10 students from River East Collegiate, Lord Selkirk Regional High School and St. James Collegiate. Students arrived on the scene moments after the "collision" had occurred, just in time to watch as police, fire and ambulance crews arrived at the site and tended to the victims. "Showing students the actual crash scene - complete with wrecked vehicles, realistic victims and true-to-life police, fire and ambulance responses has a very powerful impact," said Jackie Rizzuto, co-ordinator of the PARTY program (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth). Following the actual mock collision scenario, the students returned to the community hall in Bird's Hill, where they heard presentations from emergency response personnel as well as from real-life injury survivors. "We don't just want to scare the students with the crash scene," said Rizzuto. "We want to give them an understanding of the long-term consequences of a collision." Manitoba Public Insurance's Driver Education Supervisor Lou Gervino also talked to the students about MPI's High School Driver Education program. "Young drivers are more than twice as likely to get in a collision as older, more experienced drivers," he said. "These students are just starting to drive or will be soon. We want to encourage them to empower themselves as much as they can before they start driving so they can reduce their risks. Through MPI's driver education program, they will gain knowledge, skills and attitudes that help form the basis for a lifetime of safe driving." MPI's Driver Education program is available in about 150 high schools throughout the province. For Information Contact: Ron Burky, Manitoba Brain Injury Association (204) 953-5353 Carol Standil, Manitoba Public Insurance (204) 985-7300 Manitoba Public Insurance BACKGROUNDER The choices drivers make are known to be factors in 80-90 per cent of all crashes. Reducing the overall risk of being involved in a traffic crash depends on reducing the extent to which drivers engage in unsafe, illegal and/or risky driving behaviour. YOUNG NOVICE DRIVERS MPI'S DRIVER ED PROGRAM Between 1991 and 1996, 124 drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 were killed in Manitoba traffic collisions Young, novice drivers are more likely than older, more experienced drivers to take risks, and because of their lack of experience, less able to control the risk. When new drivers are also impaired or speeding, their crash likelihood is compounded. 16-19 year olds are more likely to be involved in traffic collisions than any other age group and have the highest involvement rate compared to all other age groups. The death rate for teenagers who ride as passengers is twice that of older people who ride as passengers. Right now, MPI's Driver Education program is one of the most affordable and comprehensive programs in the country: Driver Education has been offered in Manitoba since 1966. MPI has run the program since 1987. In 1999, MPI cut the fee for the Driver Education program in half (from $100 to $50) to make the program available to more young people. MPI's Driver Education program enrols approximately 11,000 students annually. The Driver Education program is offered in about 150 high schools throughout the province. Based on Stats Canada figures, there will be about 65,000 young adults eligible for the Driver Education program over the next four years. Preventing injuries and saving lives. MOCK COLLISION PARTNERS Manitoba Brain Injury Association PARTY Program (Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth) Manitoba Public Insurance Manitoba Health City of Winnipeg Police Headingley Highway Patrol - RCMP Selkirk fire and ambulance East St. Paul fire and ambulance Boston Pizza © 2000 Manitoba Public Insurance