By Sgt. Chris Newel

With the adverse weather and collisions, there has been considerable debate and comments on other online boards about tires. In reading those comments it appears many are ill informed and are posting comments that are not entirely correct.

ICBC says:
 Driving without winter tires will not void your insurance if you have a claim. It also won’t mean you’re automatically at fault in a crash. However, if you get in a crash where winter tires could have helped, not having them may affect whether—or how much—you are at fault.

Police do road checks and will check tires, usually part of education and awareness.

Police will check your tires after a collision and may document it as a factor and/or issue a violation ticket.

Although having a proper set of winter tires costs more initially, if they are only on half the year the two sets should last you twice as long. What is the price for your family’s safety?

The legislations around winter tires is only on selected provincial highways, there will usually be a sign. Unless there is a municipal bylaw, the law does not apply on other roads or those inside a municipality.

The winter snowflake and mountain are ideal, but M+S are accepted, ICBC says.

For more information on winter tires, please go HERE.

– Sgt. Chris Newel is Commander of the Kimberley RCMP Detachment

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