Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is supporting MADD Canada's 2025-2026 School Program in Winnipeg, a youth education initiative aimed at preventing impaired driving.
With alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs involved in more than half of youth-related road crashes, these incidents carry significant costs for public auto insurance programs. By funding the program, MPI seeks to reduce both the frequency and severity of such crashes, lowering potential claims and easing long-term pressure on Manitoba's auto insurance system.
The program reaches students in Grades 7 through 12, and combines dramatic short films, interactive quizzes, and testimonies from crash survivors to demonstrate the consequences of impaired driving. One recent testimonial comes from Alyssa Kryger, who was injured in a 2018 crash that killed her father and uncle, illustrating both the human and financial toll of impaired-driving accidents. The initiative highlights the connection between safe driving behaviors and reduced insurance claims, reinforcing MPI’s role in mitigating risk before crashes occur.
MPI’s vice president and chief customer and product officer, Maria Campos, explained that supporting MADD Canada sends a strong message that impaired driving is preventable. By empowering students with knowledge and practical tools, MPI aims to instill long-term behavior changes that protect young drivers and minimize future claim costs. This proactive approach aligns with broader insurance strategies that prioritize prevention over reactive payouts.
Schools can choose from assembly, classroom, or virtual formats, and each participating school receives an Educators’ Guide and a School Kit to reinforce safe-driving lessons throughout the year. With 109 presentations delivered this year, MPI’s sponsorship demonstrates the insurer’s commitment to public safety, risk reduction, and the sustainability of Manitoba’s insurance system.
Through targeted education and outreach, MPI is not only promoting safer roads but also managing the long-term financial exposure of its insurance portfolio. By addressing impaired driving at an early age, the program helps reduce both high-cost claims and the societal burden of traffic-related injuries, illustrating how insurers can integrate community-focused prevention initiatives into their risk management strategies.
