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.
Manitoba Public Insurance is the bearer of bad news for Flin Flon motorists. MPI says drivers who put in a claim for pothole-related damage could be found at fault and given demerit points. The statement was made to the Brandon Sun on Monday after a taxi driver in that city saw the bottom of his vehicle torn apart by potholes. MPI spokesperson Brian Smiley told the newspaper that a driver is required to respond to road conditions. If a driver knows he or she is on a bad road, they are expected to 'avoid causing damages to the vehicle,' he told the Sun. 'If they don't take those preventative steps, then the adjuster can certainly find the driver to be at fault,' he said. 'Under the driver-safety rating, an at-fault collision is assessed five demerits.' For its part, the City of Brandon says drivers should slow down, never swerve, when approaching a pothole. Potholes are a common complaint among Flin Flon drivers, with Centre Street sometimes cited as the least vehicle-friendly street in the community. It remains to be seen how many additional dollars the city will pump into road repairs in its next budget.
