An increasing number of Island drivers are installing certified winter tires on their vehicles as a way to improve safety, says Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Ron MacKinley.
“Islanders are becoming more and more aware of the advantages winter tires can provide over all seasons,” 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 Islanders are heeding that message.”
According to a recent survey of vehicles conducted by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Highway Safety Division, approximately 75 percent of Island vehicles are equipped with winter tires this season compared to 67 percent in 2010 and 53 percent in 2008.
The survey was conducted over the past two weeks. Officials looked at 2,013 vehicles in parking lots in several Island communities. According to the survey, 1,507 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.
“The results of this survey are very encouraging,” 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-season tires on snow or ice. This decreases stopping distance and improves handling during what can be a challenging season for Island drivers.