Get rolling with it

According to the Canadian Automobile Association, winter tires are essential for Quebec. Tests conducted in cold weather indicate that, at 50 kilometres an hour, winter tires reduce braking distance by 23 per cent, 11.5 metres, about two car lengths, when compared to so-called 'all-season' tires. Winter tires provide better stability for braking and also help maintain your trajectory when turning, the CAA advises.

So while all indications are winter tires are a major safety improvement, Quebec has yet to make them mandatory. An opposition member brought up the matter last week but Transport Minister Julie Boulet seemed lukewarm to the idea, suggesting awareness campaigns have already convinced 90 per cent of Quebecers to wise up and use winter tires. A Quebec coroner's report looking into the death of a 21-year-old motorist recommended in 2004 the province should require drivers to use winter tires during snowy months. Sweden and Finland have for years made winter tires mandatory, Quebec and other Canadian provinces should follow suit.



Government rules already require us to wear seat belts, to use child car seats and to make sure our headlights and taillights are working properly. Why not legislate adequate road tires for Quebec winters?

Although it does mean buying two sets, since you're switching your four-season tires they will last longer than if you kept them on year-round. Quebec already has rules that prohibit worn-out tires from being used, so why not make sure drivers have the right tires on for our winters?