Beginning Aug. 1, Manitobans convicted of impaired driving will face new insurance consequences.
Impaired drivers who are in a crash will be denied third-party liability coverage under the new rules, Manitoba justice minister Kelvin Goertzen and Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) board chair Ward Keith announced Tuesday.
This means drivers will be responsible for the cost of any damage they cause to vehicles or property if they’re involved in a collision while impaired. MPI will cover the damages and then seek repayment from the impaired driver.
“Manitoba already has among the toughest penalties in Canada for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Keith.
“This announcement creates one more serious deterrent to impaired driving in Manitoba. We are sending a clear message that impaired driving is unacceptable in our province. If you drink or use drugs, simply do not drive.”
According to MPI statistics, impaired driving is a factor in a quarter of fatal incidents on Manitoba roads each year, contributing to an average of 26 deaths annually.
So far in 2023, seven Manitobans have lost their lives in collisions involving impaired driving, Keith said.
Goertzen said the new measures are on top of existing punishments for impaired driving, which could include licence suspension, vehicles being impounded, and even criminal charges.
“Far too many people are killed and injured every year in collisions caused by impaired drivers,” he said.
“That’s why the Government of Manitoba is pleased to announce that MPI now has the authority to recover costs for property or vehicle damage directly from these drivers.”