Tag: Road safety

Backpacks are shiny, shoes are clean, and notebooks are new. It can only mean one thing – back to school! As thousands of Manitoba children head back to class this week, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is reminding everyone to keep their focus on the road.

Children may be walking, riding their bike, or getting dropped off by a parent or school bus. Motorists need to be alert to the increased road activity.

“A new school year and reuniting with friends is an exciting time for children across the province, and MPI wants everyone to be safe as they head to and from school,” said Maria Campos, Vice President & Chief Customer and Product Officer at MPI. “Children are not always predictable, so for motorists and parents, the focus needs to be on the road. Reduced speed in school zones helps slow everything down and allow for extra reaction time.”

School buses are also back on the road and will stop traffic to allow children to get on or off the bus. Motorists need to stop at least five metres behind a school bus when the upper red lights are flashing and cannot proceed until the stop sign on the bus is closed and the red lights stop flashing. Oncoming motorists need to stop with enough distance to allow for children to get on and off the bus and cross the road. In 2024, there were 119 collisions involving a school bus, emphasizing the need for everyone to slow down and work together to keep young Manitobans safe.

Here are some safety tips for all road users now that school traffic has started:

• Cross the street at marked intersections, preferably those controlled by School Safety Patrols, signs, or traffic control signals
• When crossing the street, cross as quickly as possible to minimize time on the roadway
• Look well ahead to spot school buses and school zone signs
• Wait for children to cross the street completely before proceeding
• Make lane changes early to allow room for children on bicycles, skateboards, or roller blades
• If you are driving your children to school, drop them off in a safe area, away from traffic. Use a designated drop-off zone if the school has one

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For more information, please contact:

Manitoba Public Insurance

Media Relations Unit

204-985-7300

[email protected]

Manitobans who ride motorcycles are among the most vulnerable road users in the province. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) wants more drivers to be aware of how quickly things can go tragically wrong on two wheels.

Between 2022-2024, MPI recorded nine fatalities and 434 injuries to motorcycle drivers and passengers in collisions on Manitoba roadways.

Careless driving is the number one factor in motorcycle collisions. The most common forms of careless driving that lead to multi-vehicle collisions involving a motorcycle are turning improperly, followed by failing to yield right of way and following too closely. In the past three years, careless driving has been the number one factor for both collisions caused by vehicle drivers and those caused by motorcycle drivers.

“We need drivers to stop the careless behaviours we are seeing that are causing collisions,” said Maria Campos, Vice President & Customer and Product Officer at MPI. “Motorcyclists can be more difficult to see on the road as they can be obscured by other vehicles and can easily disappear into a driver’s blind spot. Both drivers and riders need to give plenty of notice before turning, changing lanes or slowing down to give everyone more time to react”.

“To increase driver awareness of motorcycles on Manitoba’s roadways, we have launched a ‘Look twice for motorcycles’ campaign. Motorists should always look twice for motorcycles because of the fact that they are not as visible, particularly when making lane changes or left turns at intersections.”

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, a sentiment echoed by the Coalition of Manitoba Motorcycle Groups (CMMG).

“Drivers need to check mirrors and check before changing lanes – your window frame can hide an oncoming motorcyclist,” said Doug Houghton, Director of the CMMG. “Motorcyclists, you need to ride according to your ability and road conditions. Ride like you are invisible and anticipate the potential movement of other vehicles at intersections and crowded highways. Ride smart. Ride safe. The best safety equipment is under your helmet – use it!”

While careless driving was the most common factor in motorcycle collisions in 2022 and 2023, collisions with wildlife was the second highest factor.

On average, over the past five years, motorcyclists under 30 years of age were involved in twice as many collisions as motorcyclists between 30 and 59, and males made up approximately 91% of motorcyclists involved in collisions.

There were 30,980 motorcycles registered in Manitoba in 2024. There are a number of ways we can all work together to keep motorcyclists safe on the road.

For motorcyclists:

• Wear the right gear – an approved safety helmet, eye protection, jacket, pants, and boots
• Try to be highly visible by wearing bright colours
• Ride so that others can see you – headlight on and not weaving in and out of traffic so that you stay out of motorists’ blind spots
• Adjust riding behaviour to the road surface – if you are riding on a slippery surface, for example, slow your speed accordingly and adjust when making turns

For drivers:

• Always look twice for motorcycles when changing lanes and at intersections to be sure there isn’t a motorcycle in your blind spot
• Watch for signals – it may be hard to see a motorcycle’s turning signal so watch for other signs, like shoulder checking, which can indicate the rider is planning to change lanes or make a turn
• Follow at a safe distance – motorcycles may stop faster than other vehicles so four seconds is the recommended following distance. That should be increased at night or if it is raining

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For more information, please contact:

Manitoba Public Insurance

Media Relations Unit

204-985-7300

[email protected]