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With winter months looming, winter tires can help avoid collisions

Winter months are ahead. Be vehicle ready!
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With the first snowfall of the 2017/2018 season now behind us, many drivers are scrambling to adjust to the winter driving conditions and add winter tires to their vehicles. With the proof of the first snowfall of the season now almost gone, some are still scrambling to fix their vehicles for the upcoming season.

With green grass sprouting, Lynne Whalen said she's still trying to get an appointment at Canadian Tire to help add her winter tires on her vehicle.

"I know I should have done this sooner but when you work during their business hours, I don't have anyone to take my car in," she explained. "I keep getting told it'll be in late December for my appointment for my winter tires. But since we live in the north, we never know when the next dumping of snow will occur."

Also on the ball about his winter tires, Frank Assinewae said he gets his nephew to put them on his car on Oct. 1 of every year.

"Where we live, it's always a gamble on when we get snow and when don't get snow," he said. "This way, when I put them on in October, I'm set. One year we'll have snow for Thanksgiving, the next, we don't. You just  never know and it gets annoying."

When elliotlaketoday.com asked Canadian Tire about their wait times for appointments for winter tires, no worker could respond clearly about how soon someone can get an appointment. 

Working as a personal support worker in Blind River, Jonathan Lavigne said it was a "great decision to put my tires on" before the winter months arrive.

"In all honesty, I work out of town and in the winter time, it gets bad so I out my tires on right before Halloween," he said. "Although snow can come in December, at least I'm prepared. Not a lot of people are prepared. It gets pretty rough out there and people's driving can suck because of the lack of proper tires."

In addition to winter tires to help a driver out on the slick roads, the Ontario Provincial Police are also advising drivers to reduce the risk of a collision by clearing the snow off of their vehicles completely before heading out.

"Motorists are reminded to completely clear off the snow off their vehicles and to ensure visibility in all directions before heading out onto the roadways," said an OPP news release. "A buildup of snow on your vehicle and/or a foggy or iced windshield or windows can drastically reduce your visibility and cause a traffic hazard to other motorists. The OPP remind drivers that it is their responsibility to take the time to properly clean off their vehicles and ensure a clear view out of all the windows and windshield."

After being in a collision due to a motorist not following these guidelines, Sacha Parent said she's always on guard when she drives in the winter.

"Two years ago, a car swerved in my lane and hit me dead on," she explained. "My car was clear because I park it in a garage but the vehicle that hit me could barely see. This was in February. We had just had a snow storm and the driver didn't take the two minutes to clear his car off. He could have killed me, killed himself and killed my daughter. Enough is enough. It's not hard to do. Get proper tires and clean your vehicles."

"It's not just you out on the roads. There are other people as well."


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