Tomorrow marks the start of the final long weekend of summer.

 

Constable Sandy Deibert, from the Thompson RCMP detachment, spoke to Arctic Radio News with a reminder not to drink and drive. She said that impaired driving remains the leading criminal cause of death in Canada, and that it’s something that is preventable. Deibert asked everyone not drive while impaired or distracted, and that those on the roads need to make sure that it’s a safe weekend for everyone.

 

Manitoba Public Insurance added to Constable Deiberts’ reminder, telling everyone to buckle up no matter where you are sitting in a vehicle or how long the trip is. Statistics show that people who don’t wear seatbelts are 26 times more likely to be killed and two times more likely to be seriously injured in a collision over people who do wear them. 

 

MPI added that speeding is also a danger, as speeding at-fault drivers are responsible for more than 700 injuries per year, in addition to 19 deaths.

 

On average more than 800 collisions are reported to MPI annually over the Labour Day weekend.