trac

If you haven’t switched to winter tires, you may want to add it to your to-do list.

After all, Environment Canada is forecasting periods of snow to reach the region on Thursday, which could cause some slippery driving conditions.

However, switching over to winter tires will also add you to the growing number of people doing just that.

According to a new Probe Research survey commissioned by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC), 77 per cent of Ontario drivers are now using winter tires.

While that number shows people are making safety a priority, the national figure stands at 80 per cent, which is a two per cent jump over last year.

“This is a 12-point increase over the past decade,” says Michal Majernik, communications manager with TRAC. “The government, the road safety groups, the tire manufacturers – the safety messaging has been doing the job and Canadians are getting the message.”

Majernick also says climate change has been playing a role in more people using winter tires, with the report showing three-quarters of drivers (76 per cent) stating extreme winter weather events related to Canada’s changing climate have made winter tires more important than ever.

“There are these strange freak weather events that occasionally happen and if you get caught in it unprepared, you might end up in trouble,” says Majernick. “Winter tires are always the safest option for Canadian drivers.”

While the survey results suggested that safety is a priority among Canadians, the study also showed 32 per cent of drivers are less likely to buy winter tires because of current financial burdens and the rising cost of living.

In Ontario, 26 per cent of drivers say they are still deterred from making the switch to winter tires due to the cost.