Coalition calls for winter tire rebates

TORONTO, Dec. 15 /CNW/ - The winter season is here and that white knuckle drive during a snow storm can make you dread getting behind the wheel if you and your vehicle aren't prepared.

Basic winter driving tips such as installing winter tires can help keep you safe on the road. Winter tires can reduce braking distances by up to two vehicle lengths and improve a driver's chances of steering clear of a collision.

This year, the Ontario Safety League, the Ontario Hospital Association, the Canadian Automobile Association (South Central Ontario), the Ontario Trucking Association, the Rubber Association of Canada and Canadian Tire have teamed up to encourage the province to introduce incentives for drivers who equip their vehicles with winter tires. The Winter Driving Safety Coalition is calling on the Ontario government to implement winter tire tax credits and support insurance premium rebates.

Every year, thousands of Ontarians are involved in preventable winter weather related crashes.

"Installing four winter tires is the single most important step a driver can take to improve their safety on the roads in the winter," said Brian Patterson, President and CEO, Ontario Safety League.

On bad weather days, CAA SCO experiences a spike in emergency roadside assistance calls. On an average winter day, the auto club responds to approximately 3,500 roadside calls. During the first snowstorm of this year the volume more than doubled to 7,500 calls.

"Insurance premium rebates will incent drivers to install winter tires which will help reduce the number of crashes and improve safety on our roads," said Nick Parks, President and CEO, CAA South Central Ontario. "That is why CAA SCO will be applying to the auto insurance regulatory agency for insurance premium rebates for our customers."

A recent survey of Ontario drivers showed 55 per cent had experienced a car crash or car troubles due to poor winter driving conditions. Sixty-four per cent do not have the same level of comfort driving in winter as during other seasons. Meanwhile, less than 50 per cent of Ontario drivers use winter tires.

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Media contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Specialist, CAA SCO,[e-mail], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone] or Jeff LeMoine, Internal/External PRSpecialist,[e-mail], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]