At the end of last week, there was a little news item that I
suspect slip by most people's notice. Apparently, after a week of snow and cold
weather, some bright person within BC's transportation ministry wondered
whether or not it was time to make snow tires mandatory on all cars during
the "winter' months. The very brief
article wondered if the thought was encouraged by ICBC - British Columbia's
publically owned insurance company - which has been flooded with numerous
accident claims from the Vancouver area. ICBC, for what it is worth, appears to
be the only insurance company in North America that continues to lose money
year after year. It is woefully badly managed and generally costs more and offers
less service than private companies.
It is true that the southern coast of the mainland got a bit
of snow last week as did southern Vancouver Island. The rest of BC got more
snow but snow is expected and in fact, hoped for in areas of higher elevation
and slightly more north. It is also true that the snow, because it was cold
enough, did not melt quickly and therefore there were probably a lot more
accidents. But I am not sure if I should have to spend $400.00 buying snow
tires and then have to spend money every fall and spring getting them changed.
There is an alternative - don't drive when it is too slippery.
BC already has laws in place to ensure that where there is a
possibility of snow, that people must have snow tires or chains. For example to
drive from Duncan to Victoria during the winter months, because the Malahat
Highway, because of the elevation, is notorious for snow and ice, one must have
snow tires. Similarly, highways north of Duncan or certainly on the mainland
are clearly marked as to the legal requirements. My solution is that I do not
drive to Victoria during the winter months. In fact, last week when we got
nearly 12 inches of snow - I did not drive for a couple of days until the roads
were clear.
I appreciate that many people who work in Vancouver need to
commute a significant distance to get to work. For most people, missing a day's
work is not an option. For those individuals, given the lack of efficient public
transit, buying snow tires may be a logical choice. But it is a choice. I resent the fact that
some silly person in some government office, on a slow news day even thinks
about taking that choice away for me or anyone else.
There are some solutions - we could fine people who chose to
drive on snowy roads without snow tires, we could improve the public transportation
system to the point where it is a valid alternative to single-passenger cars
plugging up our artery roads or perhaps someone could suggest that Vancouver
drivers need some skill development about driving in poor weather conditions.
But do not make me buy snow tires - it is a heavy-handed
solution to a local problem.
