News - MPI

It’s estimated that auto insurance fraud costs every Manitoba Public Insurance ratepayer about $50 a year for an overall impact of $50 million. In order to raise awareness about the costs related to auto insurance fraud, Manitoba Public Insurance releases its annual top five fraud list.

With the holiday season now upon us, Manitobans are reminded impaired driving is not exclusive to over-use of alcohol. Impairment by drugs also impacts concentration, reaction time and driving ability – an issue now magnified by the legalization of non-medical cannabis use in Canada.

The number one cause of auto theft in Manitoba is the use of vehicle keys. Last year in Manitoba, more than 3,100 vehicles were stolen – 90 per cent involving the use of keys.

The Manitoba government will move forward with a broad consultation with industry and other affected stakeholders on mandatory entry-level training (MELT) for truck drivers in the province.

As of the end of November, 237 Manitoba drivers have had their driver’s licence suspended – for the minimum three-day period – since Manitoba’s new distracted driving law took effect November 1.

A bad weather day in Manitoba – freezing rain, blowing and drifting snow, white-out conditions – can result in more than 1,000 collisions over a 24-hour period, according to Manitoba Public Insurance.

As of the end of this October, 63 people have been killed in motor vehicle collisions on public roadways in Manitoba. Manitoba Public Insurance, in partnership with its road safety partners, is hoping the annual National Day of Remembrance for road crash victims encourages all motorists to think road safety.

With recent flooding on the east coast of the United States, in particular the states of Florida and the Carolinas, Manitoba Public Insurance is advising anyone looking to purchase a vehicle from the United States to carefully check the status of the vehicle before they close the deal.

Manitobans are reminded that stricter penalties for distracted driving come into force November 1, 2018.

Over the last 10 years (2008-2017), not a single pedestrian under the age of 18 has been killed in a motor vehicle collision on Halloween, according to Manitoba Public Insurance data.