November 2, 2020
Manitoba Supports MADD Canada in Awareness Campaign to Honour Innocent Victims of Impaired Driving
– – –Manitoba Proclaims November 2 as Project Red Ribbon Day: Cullen
The Manitoba government is recognizing Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada and Project Red Ribbon on the commitment made to drive safe and sober to promote the message that death and injuries resulting from impaired driving are preventable, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced today.
“Our government would like to thank Manitobans on their personal commitment to drive sober,” said Cullen. “Great strides have been made to reduce impaired driving including implementing our Immediate Roadside Prohibition. However, it continues to be a deadly problem on our roads and recognizing Project Red Ribbon helps to keep the sober driving message top of mind.”
Manitoba put into effect the Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) in 2019, which implemented consequences to impaired driving at the time of the offence. In the time that IRP was implemented in December 2019 to the end of September 2020, 782 drivers were removed from the road under the IRP legislation.
In 2020 to date, there have been at least 81 traffic collisions related to impaired driving, and at least 18 people killed and eight people seriously injured.
“Safe driving is everyone’s responsibility and impaired driving is completely preventable,” Cullen added. “Project Red Ribbon helps to share the message to drive sober throughout the holidays and the year.”
In 2019, there were 119 traffic collisions on Manitoba public roadways that were impaired driving related, resulting in 22 people killed and 18 people seriously injured. In the previous five years (2014 to 2018), on average there are 134 impaired driving related traffic collisions, resulting in 25 people killed and 24 people seriously injured annually.
According to MADD Canada, an average of four people are killed every day in crashes where there is the presence of alcohol and/or drugs, and approximately 60,000 Canadians are injured every year. The financial and social costs exceed $20 billion a year.
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