STUDDED TIRES MEAN SAFER ROADS IN NIPISSING
Lightweight Studs Now Legal In Northern Ontario

North Bay — The Ontario government has legalized the use of studded tires in Northern Ontario to improve road safety in icy conditions, MPP Monique Smith announced today on behalf of Transportation Minister, Harinder Takhar.

“This government has kept its commitment to allow residents in Northern Ontario the option of using studded tires,” Smith said. “When used properly, studded tires improve mobility and safety for drivers on icy roads.”

There are approximately 250,000 motor vehicle collisions on Ontario roads per year, about 20,000 of them in Northern Ontario. Of these, about 14 per cent occur in icy conditions.

The Transportation Statute Law Amendment act (Bill 169) was passed in November 2005. As part of this Act, a regulation was proclaimed earlier this month allowing owners of vehicles registered in Northern Ontario to use lightweight Scandinavian studs in tires anywhere in Ontario from October 1 to April 30. Studded tires are now available and can be ordered by your local supplier in Northern Ontario.

Northern residents living north of and including Parry Sound and Nipissing Districts can now use studded tires on their vehicles.

“This is good news for Northern Ontario residents,” said Smith. “Allowing the use of studded tires will provide Northern drivers with another tool to make driving safer in Northern Ontario.”

“Ontario has the safest roads in North America. I want to make sure we maintain that record,” said Minister of Transportation Harinder Takhar. “Now that winter is here, we want drivers to slow down and give themselves plenty of room to stop and drive safely.”

Before today, Ontario was the only province in Canada that prohibited the use of studded tires. The McGuinty government committed to reinstating their use in the 2003 election.

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