560 people are dead because of road collisions in Manitoba in the last five years, and the Manitoba RCMP don’t want any more families suffering from preventable tragedies.
Officers are gearing up for Canada Road Safety Week May 16-22, 2017. We will have more cars on the road and more officers on duty focussing solely on traffic enforcement. Our officers will be on the lookout for all unsafe driving practices, with a focus on impaired driving, seatbelt and child restraint use, distracted driving, and speed/aggressive driving.
Impaired driving still remains the single largest factor for traffic deaths in rural Manitoba. Impaired driving was a factor in 41% of fatal collision in Manitoba in the last five years. That means that approximately 230 deaths could have been completely prevented by people choosing not to drive impaired. The majority of alcohol-related crashes occur during the summer months. More than 80% of alcohol-related crashes are single-vehicle collisions, and the majority involve male drivers. The RCMP charges more than 1500 people in Manitoba each year with Impaired Driving under the Criminal Code. However, people continue to drive impaired, which means we will continue to enhance our enforcement to catch them before they take a life.
In 46% of fatal collisions (not counting pedestrian collisions), the deceased was either unbuckled or not wearing a helmet. Seventy-five per cent of people who are ejected from their vehicle die. A police officer has to go and knock on their door and tell their families life is changed forever. Seatbelts and helmets save lives. Period.
Excess speed or driving too fast for road conditions was a factor in 51% of fatal crashes in the last five years. How fast a vehicle is travelling is directly related to the force of the impact and the severity of the injuries. If you increase your speed, your breaking distance increases exponentially. In short, the faster you drive, the harder it is to stop.
Distracted driving is another leading cause of fatalities on Manitoba roadways. Choosing to focus on the road instead of your phone or changing the radio station could save your life.
"A small decision can have fatal consequences,” said Inspector Ed Moreland, Officer in Charge of Traffic Services for the RCMP in Manitoba. “Every driver has a role to play. The RCMP targets high-risk driving behaviours during Canada Road Safety Week and continues to do so year round. We will have extra officers on patrol this week and into the long weekend to not only provide enforcement, but to be a visible reminder to motorists that smart decisions behind the wheel saves lives."
Canada Road Safety Week is an annual effort by Canadian police services from across the country to increase enforcement around high-risk driving behaviours. We need to work together to show these behaviours will not be tolerated.
Let’s stop any further tragedies by making smart choices.
