Manitoba Public Insurance and partners raising awareness about high-collision intersections

Nearly 10,000 collisions have taken place at Winnipeg’s Top 5 collision intersections over the last decade. In efforts to heighten road safety and reduce collisions and injuries at these intersections, Manitoba Public Insurance, the City of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Police Service and CAA Manitoba are teaming up on a two-year pilot program designed to enhance motorists’ awareness at these high-collision intersections.

Winnipeg’s No. 1 collision intersection is Leila/McPhillips with 2,326 collisions. Rounding out the Top 5 are Kenaston/McGillivray (2,298 collisions), Kenaston/Grant (1,747 collisions), Lagimodiere/Regent (1,700 collisions) and Bishop Grandin/St. Mary’s (1,546 collisions). Collision data was collected from 2005-2014.

The new awareness program – which kicks off today – will leverage a mix of intersection signage, dedicated police enforcement and general public awareness at three of the five highest collision intersections in Winnipeg: Kenaston/McGillivray, Bishop Grandin/St. Mary’s and Leila/McPhillips.

“I want to commend the Corporation, the Winnipeg Police Service and CAA Manitoba for working together to address road safety risks and to pursue new strategies such as this to raise driver awareness and encourage safer driving behaviour,” said Gord Mackintosh, Minister responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance.

“This is just one more example of how working collaboratively with road safety partners can, and will make a difference and reduce risk on the road for all Manitobans.”

The installation of roadway signage on approaches to high-collision intersections is aimed to heighten awareness about collision risk and the need to proceed through these intersections cautiously.

“Road safety research also demonstrates that road safety education and awareness efforts are most effective when accompanied by visible enforcement,” said Ward Keith, vice-president Business Development & Communications and Chief Product Officer, Manitoba Public Insurance. “That’s why we are pleased that the Winnipeg Police Service and CAA Manitoba are joining this initiative to help keep motorists safe.”

Signage alerting motorists that they are approaching a high-collision intersection with a secondary message of ‘Don’t Follow Too Close’ will be conspicuously placed on all approaches at Kenaston/McGillivray and Leila/McPhillips for the duration of the two year pilot project.

Special enforcement ─ to be funded by Manitoba Public Insurance ─ will occur for the first year of the project at Kenaston/McGillivray and Bishop Grandin/St. Mary’s.

“The Winnipeg Police Service is happy to partner with Manitoba Public Insurance,” said Staff Sgt. Rob Riffel with the Winnipeg Police Service Central Traffic Unit. “This initiative fits perfectly into the Service’s strategic objectives by strengthening pro-active policing through Smart-Policing Initiatives; focusing efforts to improve traffic safety through enforcement and education, and using an evidence based and collective impact approach to increase public road safety and reduce insurance costs for the public.”

Rear-end collisions accounted for more than 50 per cent of total collisions, according to analysis of collision configurations at these intersections.

“We all know how long it takes to break a bad habit, and that’s why we’re pleased this two-year pilot project will remind motorists to practice safe driving every day,” said CAA Manitoba’s president and CEO, Mike Mager.

“CAA Manitoba is proud to help educate our Members and the public about safe driving behaviours. We all have a part to play in reducing the number of accidents at these busy intersections.”

“Manitoba Public Insurance is pleased to be working with its partners at CAA and the Winnipeg Police Service to help raise motorist awareness of the collision risk at these intersections and to encourage safer driving behaviour as a means to reduce risk on the road,” said Keith.

“In so many cases, collisions – particularly rear-end collisions – can be prevented by driving to conditions, entering busy intersections with caution, and not following too close by practicing the three to four second rule when following the vehicle ahead of you. This distance allows sufficient time to stop and avoid a collision.”

“I’m happy to be working with our partners to make sure road safety is a priority,” said Jeff Browaty, City Councillor for North Kildonan. “Ensuring that motorists understand the importance of observing the rules of the road and respecting their fellow motorists will help keep our roads safe.”

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