Driver fatigue late at night. Excessive speed. Poor visibility. The distractions of passengers and loud music.

When these risk factors are added to alcohol or drug use and not wearing seat belts, the combination can easily result in injury or death.

Every year more than 3,000 Manitobans suffer brain injuries of varying severity – many as a result of vehicle collisions. Young adults between 16 and 24 years have the HIGHEST rate of injury in vehicle collisions. With graduation celebrations and summer activities beginning soon, more young people will be on the road so their accident risk will be increased.

To educate young Manitobans about these dangers, the Manitoba Brain Injury Association Inc. is co-ordinating a mock collision in partnership with Manitoba Public Insurance, the RCMP and Winnipeg Police Services, Winnipeg emergency services and Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.).

Approximately 250 Grade 11 and 12 students from John Taylor Collegiate, Transcona Collegiate, Ste Jeanne Baptiste, Teulon Collegiate and Stonewall Collegiate will participate in the mock collision at the Red River Exhibition Park on May 26. They will witness a full-scale crash scene simulation. The scene will be treated as an actual crash by responding emergency services, including fire, police and ambulance.

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada. It is our hope that this simulated collision will increase young Manitobans’ awareness of risk factors that can result in injury or death.

For more information, please contact:

Monika Huminuk
Manitoba Brain Injury Association
953-5356

Andrea Geary
Manitoba Public Insurance
985-7247