Survey: Canadians Steer Clear of Snow Tyres

A survey conducted by insurance firm RBC and researcher Ipsos Reid shows that a little over half of Canadian motorists put snow tyres on their cars, despite the country’s snowy winter months. Feedback showed that more than half of those who do not use the specialist tyres do not due to the additional costs involved.

Francois Boulanger, president and CEO of RBC General Insurance Company, stated on the release of the information, “Installing winter tires should be a critical safety measure for all Canadian drivers. Canadians need to think of it as an investment in their family’s safety.”

The survey was based on the responses of a randomly selected sample of 2,251 adult Canadians, who were interviewed by telephone. The sample size should yield an accurate impression of the views of the country at large to within +/-2.19 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The data was statistically weighted to ensure the sample’s regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the census data.

Regionally speaking, drivers in the Prairie Provinces seem most unlikely to install winter tyres. 59 per cent of drivers in Alberta and 69 per cent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan do not use them, and of those drivers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, more than half (57 per cent) are unwilling to purchase them. In Alberta, the number increases to 62 per cent.

In Ontario, 57 per cent of drivers do not use snow tyres on their vehicles and in British Columbia, the number decreases to about 52 per cent. “Drivers in regions that don’t typically get heavy snowfall should not overlook the value of winter tires,” said Boulanger. “Preventing even a small ‘fender bender’ could save them from an insurance rate increase as a result of an insurance claim.”

In Quebec, 96 per cent of drivers use snow tires. As Tyrepress.com has reported, the province is the first to make season-specific tyres mandatory, leading to shortages in commercial retail outlets. In Atlantic Canada however, where snow fall accumulation is often high, 72 per cent report using snow tyres.