Thousands of teenagers across the province will hear about the deadly consequences of impaired driving this month thanks to the return of Manitoba Public Insurance’s popular ‘Friends for Life’ speaker series.
The series features three speakers touring more than 50 schools during the month of November to give students a first-hand account of how their lives were forever changed due to impaired driving. A special ‘Friends for Life’ event was held today at Miles Macdonell Collegiate in Winnipeg.
“From 2008 to 2012, impaired driving killed an average of 29 people each year on Manitoba roads,” said MaryAnn Kempe, vice-president, Business Development & Communications and Chief Product Officer, Manitoba Public Insurance.
“That’s one death every 12 days all because someone, somewhere, made the decision to get behind the wheel of a car while impaired. The ‘Friends for Life’ series uses eye-opening, real life stories to educate students about the consequences of this dangerous and deadly activity.”
Manitoba Public Insurance statistics show that youth aged 16 to 19 are nearly four times more likely to have been involved in a collision while impaired compared to drivers aged 25 and older.
“Many of these crashes can be avoided,” added Kempe. “Making good decisions about not getting behind the wheel after drinking or accepting a ride from someone who is impaired can literally be the difference between life and death.”
The speaker series is brought to students in partnership with the Manitoba School Board Association (MSBA) and Teens Against Drinking and Driving (TADD) and features a trio of powerful speakers in Greg Drew, Brent Thiebert and Kevin Brooks.
