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Manitoba's teen drivers highly endorse the Driver Education Program: Manitoba Public Insurance

March 25, 2010 - Nine of 10 Driver Education students say the course helped them to be a more careful driver, according to a survey conducted by Manitoba Public Insurance.

The telephone survey polled Driver Education students and their parents about the program they had recently completed.

The survey was conducted last November and reported the following:

• More than nine in 10 teen drivers agree that the Driver Education course is valuable training for new drivers and would recommend the Driver Education course to their friends.
• More than eight in 10 agree that young drivers who take the Driver Education course are more skilled than young drivers who do not take the course.
• More than half agree that if they had not taken the Driver Education course, they would have had more accidents by now.

"Driver experience and providing a solid base of safety are key components to properly preparing our teen drivers," said Lou Gervino, Manager of Driver Education and Training with Manitoba Public Insurance.

"This survey confirms that our program is accomplishing its goals and objectives both in the classroom and within the car. The Driver Education Program incorporates best practices from other jurisdictions and continuously reviews the program."

The High School Driver Education (HSDE) program has existed since 1966 and has been administered by Manitoba Public Insurance since 1987 with the support of partner organizations and Manitoba high schools. The program is designed to raise awareness in young drivers of road safety issues and teach them the appropriate skills for driving on Manitoba roads.

All full-time Manitoba high school students over the age of 15½ are eligible to attend the program, explained Gervino. Students receive 34 hours of in-class instruction, eight hours of behind-the-wheel training and eight hours of in-car observation.

Every year over 12,000 Manitoba high school students participate in the program which is offered in 150 high schools across the province.

"Overall, youth have a high regard for the benefits and outcomes associated with the HSDE Program," said Gervino. "The survey also confirmed that adults have a high degree of awareness of the program and share a high regard for the benefits and outcomes associated with it."

Some of the adult responses were:

• Nine in ten adults agree that the program is valuable training for new drivers and that they would recommend the Driver Education course to their friends and the program helps students be more careful drivers.
• More than eight in 10 adults agree that young drivers who take the Driver Education course are more skilled than young drivers who do not take the course.

"A key component of the Driver Education Program is parental involvement and assisting the young driver to gain driver experience," said Gervino. "The Driver Education Program is continuously evolving to mirror the challenges which drivers face on a daily basis."

About MPI

Manitoba Public Insurance is a nonprofit Crown Corporation that has provided basic automobile coverage since 1971. Our services are available throughout Manitoba in claim centres and Customer Service centres. For more information, please visit http://www.mpi.mb.ca.