The New Brunswick Department of Public Safety recommends the use of winter tires during the colder months but isn’t planning on making their use part of the law any time soon.
READ MORE: Motorists urged to drive according to winter road conditions
Fredericton South MLA and Green Party Leader David Coon called on the provincial government to amend the Motor Vehicle Act on Thursday at the legislature.
“I would like government to consider how to increase the number of New Brunswickers driving with winter tires,” Coon said.
Coon believes starting with an amendment that requires rental car companies to outfit all of their vehicles with winter tires would be a good way to increase the safety of motorists during the winter season and one that wouldn’t place a burden on low income individuals.
“That would be an immediate start, it would set the scene for the discussion,” Coon said. “There would need to be some significant discussion on a law that would put in place that requirement for everyone, particularly to sort out how to ensure that those living with modest means can afford to do that.”
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“When you spread it out over the three year lifespan of the tires, which is a minimum, it’s going to cost you less than your cup of Tim Hortons everyday,” said winter tire advocate Graham Neill.
“Virtually every country north of the 45th parallel has winter tire legislation except here in North America.”
In Quebec, winter tires are required by law between Dec. 15 and Mar. 15 each year.
British Columbia has made them mandatory on some of their more treacherous road ways, indicated by three-peak mountain snowflake signage.
READ MORE: Winter tires mandatory in BC starting today
But with extreme winter driving conditions seen throughout the country including Atlantic Canada, Neill thinks such legislation is just as needed in New Brunswick.
“An all-season tire at plus-7 celsius is already losing adhesion to bare dry asphalt,” explained Neill. “By the time you reach -10 to -14 degrees celsius an all-season tire is the exact equivalent of a hockey puck,” Neill said.
“It just makes sense, if something else was going to save lives it would be a no-brainer,”
A statement by the Department of Public Safety said it is continually monitoring research on winter tires but no changes to law are planned.
READ MORE: Nova Scotia government has no plans to make winter tires mandatory
“We continue to recommend the use of winter tires in New Brunswick in conjunction with safe winter driving practices,” it reads. “However, there are no plans to amend the Motor Vehicle Act to make winter tires mandatory.”
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