Québec has legislated mandatory snow tires on all vehicles as of every December 15. The CAA-Québec opposes it, preferring education to legislation which it says will be unenforceable. It also says drivers might be tempted to leave their snow tires on year round, which wears the tread faster and is also thought to be less effective on warm dry roads.

A Transport Québec official responded (from the Montreal Gazette this morning - sorry not available online):

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"What would you have us do? Pass a law making four season tire use mandatory in the summer? [That was a joke.] Thirty-eight per cent of accidents that occur in winter involve at least one vehicle equipped with four season tires."

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My twisted mind reframed that as follows:

Almost two-thirds of accidents in winter involve vehicles all of which are equipped with snow tires.

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Originally posted by Boom Boom:
I wonder if the province's new law makes exceptions for vehicles visiting from out of the province?

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First snowfall she calls me up during her drive, exulting over the greater traction and safety.
"Thanks a lot, dad," did it for me.

And now that she has junked her cellphone, she won't have to worry about being pulled over for ignoring the about-to-be-announced ban on hand-operated cellphones in Ontario ...joining Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Labrador.

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Originally posted by George Victor:
Sprung for four snow tires for my daughter's old Corolla last November.

First snowfall she calls me up during her drive, exulting over the greater traction and safety.
"Thanks a lot, dad," did it for me.

And now that she has junked her cellphone, she won't have to worry about being pulled over for ignoring the about-to-be-announced ban on hand-operated cellphones in Ontario ...joining Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Labrador.

Sometimes the law isn't a complete ass.

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No enforcement officers here on the coast except once in a blue moon, so we'll continue to use all-season tires. I see a problem when some of our Coasters who leave their vehicles in Natashquan all year make the occasional trip to Sept-Iles and beyond - seems a bit unfair to force a new set of expensive snow tires on folks who only drive out once or twice in winter.

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"Occasional trips" anywhere, seem to be the norm up there, BB.

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Originally posted by Boom Boom:
I think next year I'll buy a set of cheap rims and mount snow tires on them, and just use them all year, because a) I don't drive very far anyway, and b) maybe snow tires would be better on our gravel roads here summer and fall (we don't really have a spring here - just winter and not-so-quite winter).

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Let me know how that works out.

Although the law is of course well-intentioned (and will be a boost for the Canada Tire sector of the economy!!), it is promulgated with typical Liberal insouciance:

How the hell are the poor and near-poor supposed to afford a new set of tires?

Should they decide which costs more - the tires, or the fine, and factor in the odds of getting caught?

Should they use that hard-won set of snow tires longer, while time erodes both tread and safety?

It's the Liberal way. Still, like the hands-free cellphone prohibition, it's better than nothing.

Hey, maybe that's a good campaign slogan for Charest, if he does indeed take the December 8 plunge:

We're better than nothing!

[ 29 October 2008: Message edited by: Boom Boom ]

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How the hell are the poor and near-poor supposed to afford a new set of tires?

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Yep, that was only me exulting in a personal survival mode. Don't do that in all things. The hated food bank (which should not be necessary) is my first charity after my daughter.

Guess I have to expand my conscience (there must be lots of room in there somewhere).

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I had expected challenges to this new law from some tire manufacturers, as I recall reading years ago an article in either Road & Track or Car and Driver, that the latest generation of high quality all-season tires are as good as any dedicated snow tires.

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Nope, they're made of a softer composite material that flexes, does not grow hard in the cold weather and hugs slippery surfaces. The real McCoy. Guess we should be calling them "winter" tires, not just "snow".

That's why you put them on late and take 'em off early. They wear like ice cream on Canada Day (well, down here, farther from the North Pole that imagery works, anyway).

Just got four (litle 13-inchers, the last in stock) at a Can.Tire special, at $69 plus tax each. Installation free.

[ 30 October 2008: Message edited by: George Victor ]

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Originally posted by Boom Boom:
... I recall reading years ago an article in either Road & Track or Car and Driver, that the latest generation of high quality all-season tires are as good as any dedicated snow tires.

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How the hell are the poor and near-poor supposed to afford a new set of tires?

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But then, much as I miss my dad's usually sage advice, I should have remembered that this was the guy who used to run his tires down to the chords.

So, year before last I finally got outfitted with snow tires, and I swear by them now. They are all they claim to be.

Rebecca West outfitted her car with snow tires last weekend, and a good thing. The demand in Quebec will leave Ontario short soon.

As far as accident statistics, we all know how statistics can be manipulated.