Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has reported February was the second deadliest month on the roadways over the last two decades.

MPI Spokesperson Brian Smiley talks numbers and how it compares to last year.

"There were nine fatalities in the month of February," says Smiley. "Certainly we have to be concerned about this. Considering that 2017 was one of the safest years for road fatalities in our province over 35 years, we're not starting 2018 very [well]."

Smiley says there were a number of factors that caused the fatal accidents.

"According to our preliminary data, almost half of these crashes involved alcohol," Smiley says. "We know that drivers should know that drinking and driving do not mix. Nearly two in three involved were not wearing seatbelts, and out of nine recorded fatalities in February, seven took place in rural Manitoba."

Smiley stresses that drivers need to re-evaluate their driving. He says it's strongly encouraged that they stop high risk driving behaviours including texting while driving, speeding, not wearing seatbelts and driving while intoxicated.