Manitoba Public Insurance took its cannabis-impaired driving awareness and education campaign to the next level today, with more than 600 students from Winnipeg’s Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute viewing an impactful video about the fatal consequences of driving while high.
Manitoba Public Insurance is the provincial sponsor of MADD Canada’s School Assembly Program, which officially launched in Manitoba today and will reach an estimated 100,000 middle and high school students through more than 100 presentations over the next several weeks. The 2018 film titled ‘The Pact’ focuses directly on the extent to which consuming cannabis can impair driving and lead to tragic outcomes. The film also takes aim at correcting the misconception that driving while high is less dangerous than driving drunk.
Last spring, Manitoba’s public auto insurer launched a broad, multi-pronged public awareness and education campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers and consequences of drug-impaired driving, in lead up to the legalization of recreational use of cannabis expected later this year.
“Raising awareness and initiating conversations about drug-impaired driving is very important, particularly among young drivers who may have misconceptions about the impacts that cannabis and other drugs can having on a person’s ability to operate a vehicle safely,” said Ward Keith, vice-president, Business Development and Communications, CAO, Manitoba Public Insurance.
Using the campaign tagline ‘Think you can drive high? – Think again’ the education campaign includes new curriculum in the Corporation’s high school driver education program, public awareness messaging through TV, radio print, and outdoor billboards, and raising awareness about the impairing effects of prescription medications in cooperation with the medical community.
“MPI’s ongoing partnership with MADD Canada, allows us to step up our efforts even more by taking direct aim a new or soon-to-be new teen drivers. Our goal is to ensure that when cannabis becomes more accessible later this year, young people will have the information they need to make smart and safe decisions about driving after taking drugs, or accepting rides from drivers who have.”
