MEDIA RELEASE: Voting for the CAA Manitoba Worst Roads campaign is now open to all Manitobans

Oct 18, 2022

4 min



Winnipeg, MB, March 9, 2022 – After a winter of straddling icy ruts, Manitobans will soon be playing ‘dodge the potholes’ this spring. Worried about your safety as a cyclist or pedestrian? Think a roadway is poorly designed? Voting is now open for the annual CAA Worst Roads campaign and CAA Manitoba is giving everyone the opportunity to voice their concerns about the bad roads in their community.


“We are very proud to say that this annual advocacy campaign has influenced change for 10 years,” said Heather Mack, Manager, Government and Community Relations at CAA Manitoba. “As we kick off another year of the campaign, we are calling on all Manitobans to vote for their Worst Roads today and join the community of drivers, cyclists, transit riders and pedestrians committed to improving our roads.”

The campaign informs all levels of government which roadway improvements are top of mind for Manitobans, and where improvements could be prioritized. Manitobans can vote on issues ranging from congestion, potholes, poor road signs and the timing of traffic lights to pedestrian and cycling safety.


In 2021, four of the Top 5 Worst Roads were outside of Winnipeg, including Provincial Roads 307, 250, 450 and Trunk Highway 34.


“The key to economic recovery is the investment in roads and supporting infrastructure because when we invest in our roads, we also create jobs,” said Mack. “Throughout the pandemic, our roads have been the arteries used every day to keep essential workers, goods and services flowing. Now more than ever, funding for roadway improvements and proper infrastructure needs to be consistent to ensure that quality and safety is maintained for everyone.”


Potholes and poor road conditions are often the most common issues noted by road users and can cost motorists thousands of dollars in repairs when damage to vehicles is caused. The average cost of repairing pothole damage to a vehicle is more than $300, with some fixes topping $6,000 depending on the make and model of the car. According to the 2019 Canadian Infrastructure Report Card Spending, one dollar on pavement preservation may eliminate or delay spending $6-$10 on costly repairs later.


“As the inventory of vehicles continues to remain scarce due to the global semiconductor chip shortage, more people are now trying to hold on to their cars for longer. Not only can poor roads cause damage to vehicles but they also heavily contribute to the wear and tear of tires and increased fuel consumption which is why the maintenance and quality of our roadways is even more important than ever.”


Success stories over the last 10 years are a result of governments prioritizing infrastructure through multi-year capital investments. Some examples include:


Empress Street, Winnipeg

  • Empress Street was long in the top 10 for worst roads in Winnipeg, last appearing in 2019.
  • In 2021, the City of Winnipeg’s improvements for Empress Avenue were completed, including new pedestrian ramps on Portage Avenue and Empress, and a new bi-directional bike path stemming from the Assiniboine River.
  • St. James Coun. Scott Gillingham said he has wanted to see this project completed since he was first elected in 2014, saying “the residents told me many times that roads were the number one issue, specifically around the Polo Park area, so I'm glad to see this project completed.”

St. James Street, Winnipeg

  • St. James Street was often referred to as “driving on the moon” thanks to numerous potholes and poor patching jobs that rarely survived a season.
  • Add general congestion due to its proximity to Polo Park, and St. James Street also appeared several times on our list, last appearing as No. 6 in 2019.
  • Since 2017, major rehabilitation of St. James Street has been underway, including complete removal of some sections and intersections to be fully replaced. The work is expected to continue for 2022.


Nominations for CAA’s Worst Roads can be cast at caaworstroads.com until April 6. To encourage participants to act on their concerns, they will be entered to win a Grand Prize of a $500 Best Western gift card and $200 Ultimate Dining card; secondary prize of a $500 Olympia Ski and Cycle gift card, along with weekly draws for $50 Ultimate Dining cards.


Once voting is closed, CAA will compile a list of the 10 Worst Roads in Manitoba, along with the Worst Roads in regions across the province. The regional top five lists will help shine further light on the state of local roads in municipalities across Manitoba.

  

CAA will present the list of 2022 Worst Roads to local and provincial officials to help inform future funding and planning decisions. 


The top 10 CAA Worst Roads in Manitoba in 2021 were:  

1. Taylor Avenue, Winnipeg

2. Provincial Road 307

3. Provincial road 250

4. Provincial Road 450

5. Trunk Highway 34

6. Saskatchewan Avenue, Winnipeg

7. St. James Street, Winnipeg

8. Sherwin Road, Winnipeg

9. Waller Avenue, Winnipeg

10. Empress Street, Winnipeg

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from CAA Club Group

2 min

STORY: CCG wins prestigious IT innovation award

CAA Club Group of Companies (CCG), the parent organization of CAA South Central Ontario (SCO), CAA Manitoba, CAA Insurance, Orion Travel Insurance, and Echelon Insurance, has won a 2024 Canadian IDC CIO Award for IT innovation, from International Data Corporation (IDC) Canada, in collaboration with Foundry’s CIO. The International Data Corporation CIO Awards celebrate Canadian organizations and the teams within them that use IT in innovative ways to deliver business value, whether by creating competitive advantage, optimizing business processes, enabling growth, or improving relationships with customers. “Innovation stems from the top at CCG, thanks to our CEO Jay Woo, who has used his strong technical skills to build a foundation of excellence across the organization,” said Mary Duncan, Chief Human Resources Officer, CCG. “This prestigious recognition speaks to the strong technical skills, dedication, teamwork and diversity of CCG’s technology and innovation team, led by our Chief Technology & Innovation Officer Apra Sekhon. “ Business transformation at CCG is built on a strong technical foundation, leveraging industry-leading technology platforms and digital solutions. “CCG attracts the best of the best when it comes to technology and innovation because we understand that IT professionals thrive when given an opportunity to solve meaningful business problems through modern technology,” said Apra Sekhon, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, CCG. “They also want to work for an organization that makes them feel welcome, promotes a sense of belonging, and rewards collective accomplishments. That’s what we have here at CCG.” CCG’s technology and innovation team is made up of over 30% women with many of them in leadership positions. The team is comprised of people from over 20 different nationalities speaking as many different languages, bringing diverse perspectives, innovative approaches to problem-solving skills, abundant energy, and spirited enthusiasm to work collaboratively towards successful project implementations in support of our business objectives. The 2024 IDC CIO Award recognized the team’s work to modernize Echelon’s Specialty Personal Lines and Individually Rated Commercial Auto insurance systems. It was a large, complex project that required strong project governance and oversight over a large global delivery team comprising of architects, designers, developers, business analysts and quality assurance teams to deliver the project on time, scope, quality, and budget. “This recognition is a testament to our strength as an organization, our inclusive HR practices, the environment of trust and collaboration that our leaders have created and equal opportunities provided to everyone in our pursuit for excellence,” continued Sekhon. “I feel honoured to help create an environment that fosters personal and professional fulfillment through working on challenging projects and delivering exceptional business value.” Sekhon and her team will accept the award later this year at a ceremony in September.

3 min

MEDIA RELEASE: A new CAA study reveals over half of Ontario drivers have witnessed a close-call collision or traffic violation caused by distracted driving

A new study conducted by CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) shows that over half of Ontario drivers (66 per cent) have witnessed a close-call collision or traffic violation caused by distracted driving. For many Ontarians, those close calls are fueling safety concerns. Ninety-one per cent of drivers in the province feel somewhat or very concerned about distracted driving, a number that remains unchanged from 2023. “Distracted driving continues to be a leading factor in collisions on highways and city roads,” says Michael Stewart, community relations consultant for CAA SCO. “We continue to raise awareness of the risks associated with using your mobile device or in-vehicle technology while driving.” Distracted driving has a direct impact on road safety Ontario’s ban on using hand-held devices while driving has been in effect since October 2009. Despite this ban, distracted driving is still a common sight on our roads. The survey found that 63 per cent of Ontario Drivers have been behind a driver in another vehicle who missed a traffic light change because that driver was distracted. "It takes only a split second of inattention to cause a close call or even a tragic collision. Staying focused behind the wheel is not just a personal responsibility but a crucial act of safety for everyone on the road,” adds Stewart. The survey also found that 42 per cent of Ontario drivers stated that they had met the criteria for being distracted drivers in the past, with two per cent admitting to having been charged. While there can be many distractions on the road, the top five most concerning distractions for those surveyed are: 1. Holding a mobile device 2. Watching TV 3. Making a video call 4. Grooming 5. Typing a destination into a GPS or navigation app “Safe driving requires focus and concentration. It is always best to set up your navigation system and send your text messages before driving,” says Stewart, “Using this technology while driving is simply not worth the risk of potential charges and the danger it poses to both the driver and others on the road.” Ontarians believe fines and penalties remain the most effective methods to combat distracted driving Ontario drivers can face a minimum fine of $615 up to $1,000, three demerit points and a three-day licence suspension for their first conviction of distracted driving. According to survey data, 60 per cent of drivers support increasing fines and penalties for distracted driving convictions – however, only 32 per cent were aware of all the penalties that come with your first conviction. “As we continue to see a trend in these behaviours behind the wheel, we understand the public’s concern and desire for stronger repercussions,” says Stewart. “CAA SCO will continue to advocate for road safety through education and community member insights to help us create safer roads for all.” For more information, please visit www.caasco.com/distracted  DIG Insights conducted the survey from January 22 to February 5, 2024, as a follow-up to research to previous CAA reports. The online survey was conducted with 1,513 Ontario drivers aged 18 and older. Based on the sample size of n=1,513 and with a confidence level of 95%, the margin of error for this research is +/- 2%.)

2 min

MEDIA RELEASE: A new CAA study reveals over half of Manitoban drivers have witnessed a close-call collision or traffic violation caused by distracted driving

A new study conducted by CAA Manitoba (CAA MB) shows that 59 per cent of Manitoba drivers have witnessed a close-call collision or distracted driving traffic violation. For many Manitobans, these close calls are fueling safety concerns, as 89 per cent of drivers in the province feel somewhat or very concerned about distracted driving. “Distracted driving is the leading contributing factor in fatal motor vehicle collisions in Manitoba,” says Ewald Friesen, manager of government and community relations at CAA Manitoba. “By raising awareness of the risks of distracted driving, we hope to do our part to save lives and increase safety." Distracted driving has a direct impact on road safety Manitoba’s ban on using hand-held devices while driving has been in effect since July 2010. However, distracted driving caused by technology continues to be a concern across the province. The survey found that 60 per cent of Manitoba drivers have been behind a driver in another vehicle who missed a traffic light change because that driver was distracted. “Safe driving requires focus and concentration.  It is always best to set up your navigation system and send your text messages before driving,” says Friesen, “Using this technology while driving is simply not worth the risk of potential charges and the danger it poses to both the driver and others on the road.” The survey also found that 51 per cent of Manitoba drivers stated that they had met the criteria for being distracted drivers in the past, with three per cent admitting to having been charged. While there can be many distractions on the road, the top five most concerning distractions for those surveyed are: 1. Holding a mobile device 2. Watching TV 3. Making a video call 4. Grooming 5. Wearing headphones or earbuds “It is always best to send your text messages and make your video calls before driving,” says Friesen, “Engaging in these behaviours is not only illegal, but they put the life of the driver and those around them at risk.” Manitobans believe fines, penalties and public education remain the most effective methods to combat distracted driving According to Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), using a mobile device while driving is illegal. If ignored, this can result in a $672 fine and possible license suspension. The survey also found that 57 per cent of Manitoba drivers support increasing fines and penalties for distracted driving convictions. For more information, please visit https://www.caamanitoba.com/distracted The online survey was conducted by DIG Insights from January 22 to February 5, 2024, with 506 Manitoba drivers aged 18 and older. Based on the sample size of n=506 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for this research is +/- 3%.)

View all posts