WINNIPEG — Winnipeggers are getting their annual lesson in winter driving, and some are learning the hard way.
Manitoba Public Insurance says since the snowfall last Sunday they’ve received 2,500 accident claims. There were just 2,100 the week before (Nov. 10-15) and 2,300 two weeks ago.
“Oftentimes drivers have winter amnesia, ” said MPI spokesperson Brian Smiley. “They forget how slippery it is. They forget how long it takes to stop.”
Driving instructor Dane Wilson said winter tires are key when the snow and ice cover the roads.
“All you have to do is drive a car with winter tires and a car with all-season radial tires and you would see a vast difference.”
So did we. We lined up two Ford vehicles, one with winter tires, one without, and had them drive across a parking lot at 50 kilometres per hour, then slam on the brakes. The winter tires stopped about 10 feet before the vehicle with all-season tires.
The CAA said only about one-third of Manitobans have winter tires and often cost keeps people from using them.
But the cost could save drivers from expensive deductible and repair bills in the future.
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