Lou Gervino in the News

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 20, 2007, Winnipeg, Manitoba ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dawn and dusk can make for some difficult driving, especially if you’re driving east in the morning or west in the late afternoon. As fall brings later dawns and earlier dusks, more of us will find ourselves driving during those periods. “The reason it’s particularly difficult is that you can be facing quite a bright horizon while both the sky above and the road below are dark,” says Lou Gervino, Manager of Driver Education at Manitoba Public Insurance. “That makes it difficult for your eyes to adjust and your headlights aren’t as effective, so it’s a time for caution.” By law your headlights have to be on a half hour before sunset and a half hour after sunrise, but Lou says it’s a good idea to use them all the time because they make your vehicle easier for other drivers to see.

To cope with the challenges of driving at dawn, dusk and in the dark, there are a number of things you can do:

· Drive more slowly 

· Increase your following distance, and keep in mind that generally your ability to judge distance is diminished by darkness 

· Scan continually for hazards 

· Avoid glare inside the vehicle by adjusting dash lights 

· Be sure to signal well in advance of turns by using your signal lights, stops by flashing your brake lights or passing by flashing your headlights 

· Keep windows and lights clean

“ One good rule of thumb is that you should adjust your night- time speed so you can stop within the range of your headlights,” says Lou. “ And always remember that your headlights illuminate a fairly narrow beam ahead of you, so you have to be very alert to anything that might suddenly emerge from the surrounding darkness.”

March 25, 2010 MPI News Release

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

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 151/2 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.”

Think safety this harvest: The Red River Valley Echo

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 11:00:00 CDT PM

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Keystone Agricultural Producers is reminding farm families and those who live and work in agricultural areas to be safe this harvest season.

While the rush of harvest puts a number of pressures on farmers, it is also important to keep safety first.

Fatigue is a major contributing factor to injury so farmers should make sure they are as well rested as possible and that all workers have adequate breaks.

Those who are driving heavy equipment on highways are required to have a slow moving vehicle emblem clearly visible to traffic approaching from behind, and most will also feature flashing lights.

At night, headlights, red tail lamps and flashing amber warning lights are required.

However, other motorists also have a responsibility. Pay careful attention to the roadway at all times.

Farm machinery is often closer and moving slower than if first appears.

Driver Education manager at Manitoba Public Insurance, Lou Gervino said everyone has a responsibility at this time of year.

"It just takes a little extra care and consideration from the drivers of both types of vehicles and an awareness of the rules," he said.

Accidents increase as drivers tackle slippery streets: The Winkler Times

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 11:00:00 CST PM

By Ashleigh Viveiros

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As the cold weather settles in for the long haul, so too do the slippery, snow-covered streets that can challenge the skills of even the most experienced drivers.

Winkler police generally expect to respond to about an accident a day at any given time of the year, but the numbers do tend to go up as drivers start to slide around on our local streets, said Insp. Brad Kehler.

"The majority of accidents are inattentiveness and striking other vehicles from the rear that are stopped to turn," he said, adding that in the last few snowy weeks "no question about it, most of the accidents are people saying they couldn't stop in time."

According to Manitoba Public Insurance, December, January, and February of 2007 had more collisions than any other months in the rest of the year. It's a trend that holds true for eight of the last 10 years.

"Ice and snow, combined with driving too fast for the conditions, are a surefire recipe for disaster," said Lou Gervino, manager of MPI's driver education and improvement."Posted speed limits are only intended for ideal road and weather conditions. When they worsen, it's time to slow down."

Kehler also advises motorists to take it slow and give themselves significantly more time to stop at intersections over the next few months.

"We'd advise that drivers give themselves extra time to reach their destination, and leave more space between themselves and the vehicle ahead of them than they would in dry conditions," he said.

Slippery road dangers aside, falling snow is another winter hazard drivers must contend with when they hit the streets.

Motorists should always make sure to keep their windows clear of frost, snow, and fog, Kehler said - so peering out of the tiny hole you scraped in the ice on your windshield is not acceptable.

"It's dangerous," he said, noting you can in fact be ticketed for driving with an obstructed view. "Drivers are required to have a full range of view."

Drivers should also clear snow from their lights, licence plates, and sideview mirrors, Kehler said.

"Your licence plate should be visible at all times," he said.

MPI also advises drivers to remove snow from your boots before getting into your car, so you're less likely to have your foot slip off the pedals; remove loose snow from the hood to avoid it blowing into the vents and fogging up the interior of the vehicle; use winter tires or, at the very least, make sure your all-seasons have good tread and appropriate tire pressure for the conditions; and avoid sudden directional changes.

Finally, don't get too cocky out there, said Gervino, even (or maybe especially) if you're driving a winter-ready truck or SUV.

"People in four-wheel drive SUVs sometimes get lulled into a false sense of complacency and think they can continue to drive like it's July. Not so. You might accelerate fairly well, but all bets are off on stopping," he stressed