Mandatory winter tires ‘make no sense’ for Lower Mainland: critic

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A B.C. driving advocate says the Attorney General’s plans to talk about mandatory winter tires with ICBC doesn’t have any traction.

With thousands of calls to ICBC’s dial-a-claim services this week, questions are being raised about whether winter tires should be mandated in the Lower Mainland during the winter months.

Earlier this week, David Eby said he plans to bring up the idea with ICBC.

“I’m very frustrated seeing people without winter tires, skating around, running into other vehicles, going into the ditch. I think that the recommendation that a lot of people have about mandatory winter tires is a good one. It’s why we have mandatory winter tire requirements on many highways in the province. It’s certainly something I’ll be asking ICBC about following some of what I saw on the road over the last couple of days, and I’m sure a lot of British Columbians would nod along with that idea.”

However, Derek Lewers, a researcher with Sense BC, says its an idea which would be very difficult to enforce.

“Such a law like that, who is going to enforce that? Are we gonna have police on every corner, checking for mounting snowflakes on every tire?” he asks.

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As for the costs of what a winter tire mandate would be, Lewers argues there doesn’t need to be a law for everything, but rather common sense needs to be involved.

“When it comes to safety, people who own cars need to be responsible for those cars and if they can’t afford to maintain their cars in an adequate condition, then maybe they shouldn’t be on the road to start with.”

At the same time, BC’s Liberals ICBC critic Jas Johal suggests money might be better spent giving municipalities the tools to make the roads more clear.

“Let’s focus our time on maybe city halls spending money, getting an extra salt truck or two so we can get out there and make the roads a little safer.”

Johal adds Vancouverites shouldn’t be forced to purchase winter tires for the one week it snows in the Lower Mainland when there’s more important things to focus on.

“It makes no sense in any practical way,” he says. “Mr. Eby should be spending time on helping reduce insurance rates in a significant manner so British Columbians aren’t paying five or six thousand dollars a year on insurance.”