More and more Islanders are taking steps to be safe on Island roads over winter. This according to a recent survey of vehicles conducted by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Highway Safety Division. Results of the survey show that just over 66 per cent of Island vehicles were equipped with winter tires this season compared to 53 per cent in 2008.
“The results of this survey show that the majority of Islanders are taking safety seriously when it comes to winter driving,” says Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Ron MacKinley. “Our Department has worked hard over the last number of years to promote the use of winter tires as the safest option for winter driving and the results are encouraging.”
The survey was conducted in January. Officials looked at 2,029 vehicles in parking lots in Summerside, Montague and Charlottetown. According to the survey, 1,356 vehicles were equipped with four matching winter tires or winter studded tires. The remaining vehicles had either four all-seasons or a mix of tires. The sample size gives the survey an accuracy of +/-2.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
“Islanders are becoming more and more convinced that winter tires provide a safer alternative to all-seasons during the winter months,” says Minister MacKinley. “But at the same time, the safest measure drivers can take is to slow down and adjust their driving to the condition of the road.”
According to recent studies, winter tires provide almost twice the traction as all-seasons on snow or ice. This decreases stopping distance and improves handling during what can be a challenging season for Island drivers.