Quebec makes winter tires mandatory and prohibits hand-held cell-phones

[urban.one]

Quebec makes winter tires mandatory
RHÉAL SÉGUIN

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

December 20, 2007 at 3:22 AM EST

QUEBEC — Quebec has become the first province to require car owners to install winter tires on their vehicles as part of a new road safety law aimed at reducing fatal accidents.

It will become mandatory next fall for all vehicles to be equipped with a full set of winter tires from Nov. 15 to April 15. Currently, 90 per cent of Quebec drivers switch to winter tires. But Minister of Transportation Julie Boulet wanted to make snow tires compulsory, even though buying them will represent an additional cost for some owners.

“There is no price when it comes to road safety,” Ms. Boulet said Wednesday. “What we want is to save lives and this is just one of the measures that will allow us to do this.”

Last year, 717 people died as a result of accidents on the province's roads.


The new law also prohibits drivers from using hand-held cellphones, a measure that will be gradually introduced beginning Jan. 1. This was a controversial proposal made by the task force on highway safety this fall, and the government decided to implement it immediately, convinced that cellphone use has become a serious obstacle to safe driving.

[bigboom]

i have no objections to this new law whatsoever and strongly believe Alberta should look into something like this as well.

[3g4u]

I totally agree with the cellphone law, I think that this should be be everywhere. People dont realize how shitty they actually drive while yapping on the phone, i mean a bluetooth headset is only like $20!

[heavyD]

I would be okay if Alberta followed suit as allseason tires are garbage in the winter. Possibly forcing drivers to put on winter tires would reduce the number of fender benders that bogs down city traffic after a good snowfall.

As for banning cell phone use I'm surprised that this hasn't happened sooner. The majority of people I see on the roads driving retardedly are usually talking on cell phones especially women. Really is there anything more dangerous on the road than an oriental woman driving while talking on a cell phone?

[im2fst4u]

I am in agreement with the cell phone law as I have seen first hand the aftermath of a conversation while driving. I held an elderly lady last year just north of the Country Hills overpass as she passed away in my arms only to find out later that the driver of the other vehicle that caused the accident was talking on her cell phone. Not worth a life!
Is a phone call worth that? Pull over, handsfree....wait til it's safe to make that call!

Winter tires, another good idea but it's not always the tires that save you, drive with respect in the winter months. We all know what this city is like around the first snowfall......people have to relearn how to drive for the first few days.

Alberta should follow Quebec's lead!

[Aleks]

finally Frenchies get something right

[benyl]

Originally posted by heavyD
Really is there anything more dangerous on the road than an oriental woman driving while talking on a cell phone?

This, for once, is something that Quebec is doing right.

If this happens in Alberta, I am opening a tire shop!

[EK 2.0]

Originally posted by im2fst4u

Alberta should follow Quebec's lead!

I never thought I would ever hear/read that statement and agree with it.

[Akagi Redsuns]

Originally posted by 3g4u
I totally agree with the cellphone law, I think that this should be be everywhere. People dont realize how shitty they actually drive while yapping on the phone, i mean a bluetooth headset is only like $20!

I find that it's not the physical act of holding a phone that is causing accidents, it's the fact that the driver's attention is being diverted away. Bluetooth headsets are not going to help, the driver's need to keep it in their mind that the conversation they are having should have the lowest priority when driving. Checking the environment around your car and paying attention needs to have first priority. I have seen people talking on a bluetooth headset that can barely keep in their lane, let alone paying attention to signal lights or other cars. These are the idiots that are going to plow into other cars or people and then exclaim that there was nothing they could of done and they popped out of nowhere.

[finboy]

now if they can just ban soccer mom's and old people from driving

[mekeni]

hooray for Quebec !!!

[01RedDX]

.

[gpomp]

Originally posted by heavyD
oriental woman

asian woman. oriental is for rugs and furniture

[85regal]

in total agreement.

[3g4u]

Originally posted by Akagi Redsuns


I find that it's not the physical act of holding a phone that is causing accidents, it's the fact that the driver's attention is being diverted away. Bluetooth headsets are not going to help, the driver's need to keep it in their mind that the conversation they are having should have the lowest priority when driving. Checking the environment around your car and paying attention needs to have first priority. I have seen people talking on a bluetooth headset that can barely keep in their lane, let alone paying attention to signal lights or other cars. These are the idiots that are going to plow into other cars or people and then exclaim that there was nothing they could of done and they popped out of nowhere.

Ya i agree but at least with the bluetooth headset they most likely have two hands on the wheel.

[Melinda]

Why is it that lately quebec is looking like more of an attractive place to live?

Good on them

[Eleanor]

Originally posted by Akagi Redsuns


I find that it's not the physical act of holding a phone that is causing accidents, it's the fact that the driver's attention is being diverted away. Bluetooth headsets are not going to help, the driver's need to keep it in their mind that the conversation they are having should have the lowest priority when driving.

I personally find that when I'm on my bluetooth, my driving is way better then when i've got the phone to my ear. I don't talk on the phone without the bluetooth when i'm driving anymore. How is talking on your headset any different then talking to your GF in the frontseat?

Way to go Quebec!

[heavyD]

Originally posted by Melinda
Why is it that lately quebec is looking like more of an attractive place to live?

Good on them

The food is fantastic and the women certainly are very attractive. Too bad the whole province is bogged down by politics.

[NYTRYDR]

90% of the accidents people get into are not because of there tires, this winter tire idea that you are all so fond of is and will not be that effective. its not going to stop the dumbasses from rear ending, it may reduce how hard they rear end you but your still going to get rear ended if thats the case.

[Trini]

good move