Manitoba road fatalities down 23 per cent in 2014, RCMP say

Manitoba’s roadways outside Winnipeg were less lethal in 2014, with the number of fatal crashes down 16 per cent from the previous year.

In 2014, 73 people died in 68 fatal collisions.

As RCMP note, “one death on Manitoba roadways is one too many.”

But 2014 marked a drop from 2013’s 95 deaths in 81 fatal collisions, and below the five-year average (2009-13) of 92 deaths in 83 fatal collisions.

Eastern Manitoba was the location of 27 of the fatalities; another 29 happened in western Manitoba, and 12 in the north.

RCMP noted that many of the fatal collisions were preventable: in 56% ,speed or driving too fast for conditions was a factor. In 43%, impairment by alcohol or drugs played a role; the average blood alcohol content of drivers tested was 2.5 times the legal limit, with the highest post-collision BAC almost 4.5 times the legal limit.

In seatbelt-applicable crashes, 48% of the deceased were not wearing seatbelts. In ORV/motorcycle crashes, 58% of the deceased were not wearing helmets.

Agencies/Canadajournal