Driving the ice roads in Manitoba’s north, hopping in your vehicle to head out to your ice fishing shack, or driving a well-known route on a frozen lake all carry a risk of going through the ice. With warmer weather on the way, that risk only increases as ice begins to soften and melt.
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) received 22 claims in 2024 for vehicles that went through the ice, and there have been four claims reported so far in 2025. Going through the ice into cold water is potentially fatal as it can lead to hypothermia or drowning. In fact, one third of all drownings in Manitoba occur during the winter months – between October and April.
Recommended ice thickness for walking is 10 centimetres; to support one ATV or snowmobile, the ice should be 12 centimetres thick; for a car, the ice should be 20-30 centimetres thick; and for a truck, it should be 30-38 centimetres thick. However, even thick ice has the potential to be weak and crack. Temperatures can also vary widely throughout the province and while ice may be thick enough to travel on in one area, it could be extremely dangerous elsewhere.
“Drivers need to consider whether it is reasonable and safe to head out onto the ice,” said Maria Campos, Vice President & Chief Customer and Product Officer. “Understand the rules when traveling on ice roads and be prepared in case an emergency occurs. Manitobans should take special care when driving on surfaces that are slippery and can change without warning.”
Preparation is the key to keeping safe on ice roads – whether those are maintained ice roads in Manitoba’s north or a worn path on a local lake.
“Heading out onto the ice knowingly means you can take the steps to help protect yourself,” said Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, known as “Professor Popsicle” for his 30-year career studying submersion and the effects of cold water. “Ice road safety looks a little different than the safety precautions we normally take on the roadways. For example, if you are heading out onto ice, unfasten your seatbelt and open your window so you can quickly exit the vehicle if it goes through the ice. I use the term ‘SWOC’: Seatbelts off, Windows open, Out immediately, Children first. If you remember those four things, your chances of getting out of a submerged vehicle increase.”
Lynne Stefanchuk, Executive Director of Lifesaving Society Manitoba, adds, “If you do choose to go on the ice, then you need to plan ahead and be prepared to go through the ice and into cold water. Wear something that floats, like a life jacket over your winter clothes; don’t go out alone; and be prepared to perform a rescue.”
Always make sure someone knows where you will be travelling, what time you left, and what time you are expected to arrive at your destination.
