105 have died in crashes on Manitoba roads in 2016

The number of people who have died in crashes on Manitoba roads this year has reached 105, according to RCMP.

Without a drastic reduction in in reckless driving,police estimate that the number will climb to 115 before the year is out.

"We are seeing disturbing driving behaviours that are endangering the lives of Manitobans," said RCMP assistant commissioner Scott Kolody in a news release.

105 have died in crashes on Manitoba roads in 2016

8 years ago

Duration 1:24

The number of people who have died in crashes on Manitoba roads this year has reached 105, according to RCMP

"Of tremendous concern is people drinking and then driving but we are also seeing texting and driving, speeding and lack of seatbelt use."

Last year the total number of people who died in crashes was 80.

The RCMP's Holiday Checkstop Program, which tries to clamp down on intoxicated driving, begins Thursday.

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'It does happen to you'

Manitobans don't take road safety seriously enough, said MelodyBodnarchuk,Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Winnipeg chapter president.

BodnarchukattendedtheRCMPcheckstop launch event Thursday, saying she is frustrated people don't see it as a life-and-death crisis.

She lost her 22-year-old nephew, Brett Yasinsky, to a drunk driver six years ago.

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"People think it doesn't happen to them. [That] it happens to other people. They've done it before. Nothing bad happened. But you know what? Luck runs out. And if you push the envelope you are going to pay the consequences. And it does happen to you," she said.

"If this was something like a virus, Manitobans would be in a panic that every 3 days, somebody in Manitoba is dying as a result of a virus. This is an epidemic. It's a pandemic."