December 8, 2011

Don't be a statistic! December second highest month for total collision victims: Manitoba Public Insurance

Don’t be a December statistic! According to collision data released by Manitoba Public Insurance, the month of December has an average count of 733 collision victims ─ which includes nine people killed. Only January is worse with an average total of 870 collision victims.

The police-reported collision data was collected over a five-year period (2005-09), explained Ted Hlynsky, Vice-President, Claims Control & Safety Operations, Manitoba Public Insurance. Over the last three years a total of 25 people have been killed in December on Manitoba roadways.

“Already this year in Manitoba we have experienced more than 100 fatalities on our roadways,” said Hlynsky. “Unfortunately, 2011 has been a tragic year on our roadways, exceeding last year’s 87 road fatalities.

“Many of these collisions were totally preventable, if only the driver had changed their behaviour ─ not drinking and driving, not speeding and buckling up their seatbelt.”

December’s average count of 733 collision victims is the cumulative total of deaths, serious injuries, minor injuries, minimal injury and other, explained Hlynsky.

“Manitoba is entering the traditional holiday season,” said Hlynsky. “People will be enjoying their Christmas parties and gatherings. But it’s important to place road safety as a priority.”

With the goal of raising road safety awareness among young Manitobans, Manitoba Public Insurance recently announced it was sponsoring the inaugural ‘Rethink Road Safety Video’ contest. The contest ─ open to Manitobans aged 16 to 25 ─ will run from December 1 to April 1, 2012. First prize in each category is $5,000. (Prizes will be awarded as gift cards for electronics, educational products or scholarships.)

Winning videos will be announced and shown at the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) annual conference being held in Winnipeg next spring. The winning videos will also be hosted on both the Manitoba Public Insurance and CCMTA websites.

To enter, contestants will upload their respective videos to their YouTube channel and provide a link on their entry form. All entries will be reviewed by Manitoba Public Insurance staff prior to posting on the official contest website.

Those interested in entering can go to www.mpi.mb.ca for more information regarding rules and eligibility.

In addition to individual prizes, schools that assist in the production of winning entries will also be eligible for a $2,000 honorarium. This honorarium will be available to high schools, universities, colleges or specialized film schools that are named by entrants.

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