Between Dec. 15 and Mar. 15, a new amendment to the Highway Safety Code obliges all taxis and passenger vehicles registered in Quebec to be equipped with winter tires.
Transport Quebec statistics from 2005 show that 38% of winter accidents involved at least one vehicle with all-season tires.
Each police station will have to decide how it will check for winter tires because no across-the-board procedures have been mapped out, SÛretÉ du QuÉbec Sergeant MÉlanie Paul said.
"For now, we have no specific operations planned, but simply put, officers who stop someone for another infraction will be checking if the car has winter tires," Paul said.
The same goes for the Montreal police department. Commander Daniel Touchette said cars that are pulled over for other violations will be checked for winter tires.
How can police tell if you have winter tires? Transport Quebec’s Web site says tires marked Arctic, Blizzard, Ice, LT, Snow (but not mud and snow), Stud or Winter qualify as winter tires, as do those with a mountain/snowflake logo.
Tires with that logo have passed standardized tests, said George Iny, president of the Automobile Protection Association of Canada.
If you’re caught without winter tires this year, the fines range from $200 to $300, but demerit points won’t be deducted for the offence.
Snowbirds who plan to drive to Florida between Dec. 15 and March 15 will have to apply for a special dispensation from the SociÉtÉ de l’assurance automobile du QuÉbec to drive on summer tires; it’s good for seven days.
But before you line up at the SAAQ to get dispensation certificates, be advised that the licensing agency still doesn’t know yet exactly how it will handle such requests, spokesperson Audrey Chaput said.
According to Transport QuÉbec figures collected in 2005, 90% of passenger vehicles registered in Quebec already were equipped with winter tires. For those motorists still using all-season tires, a trip to the tire store will now be necessary.
"This is the changeover year, so expect tire retailers to be very busy," Iny warned. "People would be correct to get their tires on early to avoid the hassle of waiting when the shops get very busy."
Iny explained that winter tires are made of a rubber compound that is softer and more pliable than that of all-season tires, enabling them to stick to the road in cold and icy conditions.
But you don’t want to install winter tires too soon.
"The enemy of a winter tire is heat. The rubber gets too soft and wears more quickly. You are pretty safe if you wait until the middle of October to change your tires," Iny said.
Tire shops are already anticipating a rush. "September and February are typically our quietest months, but we’re busy," said Celso Louro of Merson Automotive on St. Jacques St. in Notre Dame de GrÂce. "We’re doing a lot more business this year.
"I think this is an important law, and with winter tires the roads will be safer for everyone." (Tire Review/Akron)
