Manitoba will be one of the first provinces to begin using standardized terms to describe winter-driving conditions, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton announced.
“The changes adopt new vocabulary for winter-driving conditions which will benefit all drivers as Manitobans and anyone travelling through the province from another jurisdiction will have consistent road information,” said Ashton. “The definitions were developed in conjunction with the Transportation Association of Canada and provide standard, concise terminology that helps drivers make decisions based on consistent information.”
New standardized definitions and colour schemes are now being used on the province’s road information website along with other improvements. The new colour schemes on maps were chosen based on extensive driver surveys and to assist motorists who are colour blind to identify conditions more easily.
The road conditions online service is one of the most-visited websites in government. The site gets about 2,300 visits on a typical winter day but usage can surge to over 45,000 visits per day during storms.
Manitoba’s road information centre serves the public 24 hours a day, providing important updates on driving conditions based on reports from highway staff.
Updated information on road conditions in Manitoba is available any time at 204-945-3704, toll-free at 1-877-MBRoads (1-877-627-6237) or at www.manitoba.ca/roadinfo.
