The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
As has been experienced in other provinces, Manitoba is seeing fewer accidents and improved safety under graduated driver licensing, Transportation and Government Services Minister Ron Lemieux said yesterday in releasing a preliminary study by Manitoba Public Insurance. Among the findings of the study: injuries declined by 482; damage claims are down 1,640; and fatalities are down more than 50 per cent to four in 2003 from 10 in 2002. "Based on these early findings, we can see that graduated licensing is meeting this government's commitment to enhancing road safety," Lemieux said. "The study seems to confirm that drivers need the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to make Manitoba's highways safer." The report, which focuses on the years 2000 to 2003 and on the records of drivers aged 151Ú2 to 18 years old, shows the number of fatalities, injuries, crashes, physical damage and driver involvement decreased in 2002 with the introduction of graduated licensing. The Manitoba government introduced the graduated driver licensing (GDL) system in 2002 to ensure safer driving for novice drivers. Under graduated driver licence programs, anyone obtaining a learner licence for the first time will be subject to a nine-month learning period before taking a road test. New drivers are also subject to other driving restrictions until they have gained experience under lower risk, more protective driving situations. Lemieux noted that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Division is conducting a more comprehensive study of the impact of GDL. The minister also announced yesterday that renewal fees for Manitoba driver licences will increase by $5, effective April 1, to offset the cost of new programs and various system improvements, the rising cost of the system itself, as well as ongoing safety and education programs.1/3/04
