January sees spike in speed-related collisions: MPI

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has received roughly 10,000 collision claims within the first two weeks of 2011, many of which stemmed from motorists driving too fast on ice/snow covered roads.

The majority of speed related collisions occur between the months of November through to March, an MPI release says. Over the 2003-2009 period, 20% of these occurred in the month of January.

“Driving too fast for road conditions is clearly a problem on Manitoba roads,” said Ted Hlynksy, claims control and safety operations, MPI. “Speeding is a driver behaviour which can be easily eliminated. The majority of the speed related collisions that take place are collisions where a driver was driving too fast for the weather or the road conditions.”