In recent weeks, Ontario has seen some beautiful Fall temperatures. By this time last year, we actually had lots of snow in some places. With November coming to an end shortly, we’ve seen above seasonal temperatures and some really beautiful hiking conditions. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but given there was snow in California today, we’ll be seeing the white stuff in these parts in no time. As Fall leaves us, we’re all waiting in anticipation of what Father Winter might bring. I expect a Green Christmas, but it’s beyond the New Year that has me concerned.
I rather enjoy Winter. I prefer cold temperatures as opposed to our oppressively hot humid summers. As I remind people who bitch incessantly over how cold it is, we live in Canada. Enough said there. Complain all you want, we’re not exactly in a geographically located place that is conducive of pleasant Winter temperatures. Thus why complain about how cold it is? It’s bad enough the Economist offers polite commentary about how much we talk about the weather — too much!
Never the less, I have seen one thing that has made me extremely happy lately. Even though it’s not law in Ontario (yet), the increase of winter tyres on cars has been a joyful sight on the roads. We’ve not been in a position to need them, but the fact that drivers are taking responsibility for their own safety and OTHERS around them is fantastic. Last year Québec made winter tires mandatory through their Highway Safety Act. Ultimately it comes down to people being more aware that the cheapest of winter tyres are a thousand times better than the best all-season. Could it be that common sense is trickling down to Ontario drivers? Gosh, I could only hope. I’m hoping Ontario will follow suit sooner, rather than later, with our own Law requiring winter sets for the road.
It comes as no surprise that I see more and more AWD vehicles on the road too. Nearly every manufacturer has some AWD offering, even if it isn’t a double Haldex system, Jeep’s manually engaged 4×4 awesomeness, or Grand Father Quattro running things. It seems that auto manufacturers & people are cluing in to the fact that Canadian driving conditions can be some of the worst in the world. Even if belt tightening is getting a bit tougher, a long term investment in to the cheapest of winter tyres can be a huge difference to your Canadian driving experience. We’ll have to wait and see what our Canadian karma delivers us this Winter.
While winter tyres won’t solve bad driving habits, nor will AWD systems automatically correct for driving well beyond the driving conditions of the roads (I’m looking at you SUV owners), I’m liking what I see so far by my fellow Ontarians.