Driving too fast for winter conditions causing thousands of crashes: Manitoba Public Insurance

Almost 30,000 collision claims opened with Manitoba Public Insurance over about the last six weeks indicate that thousands of crashes in the province were the direct result of motorists driving too quickly on ice/snow-covered roads.

Of the claims opened up, thousands were the result of vehicles losing control on ice, or that were unable to stop because of excessive speed due to weather-related conditions, notes a statement issued last week by MPI.

Based on MPI collision data, speeding accounted for 34% of all people killed in a collision in 2011 and 17% of all serious injuries sustained in collisions in 2011.

MPI recently launched the “Take it Slow” advertising campaign – which includes television, radio, outdoor and web spots – in a bid to heighten motorist awareness about driving to road conditions.

“Driving is challenging under the best of road and weather conditions,” MaryAnn Kempe, vice-president of corporate and community relations for MPI, notes in the statement. “Winter weather conditions extreme cold, heavy snow, slush, freezing rain can change dramatically during a very short period of time. Drivers need to adjust just as quickly. By doing so, a collision could be avoided.”

MPI recommends that motorists do the following:

• slow down – the posted speed limit is intended for ideal road and weather conditions;
• allow more time to stop – traction is reduced when roads are slippery from rain and it takes more time to come to a complete stop; and
• leave more space – leave at least four seconds between your vehicle and the one ahead (following distance should increase when travelling at higher speeds or visibility is poor).