Buckdog

While I was not there and thus cannot comment with any authority, I will say that all things being equal, winter tires would have helped. I wonder how many of the vehicles involved were equipped with proper winter tires? You have more control, better stopping distance, a nicer ride, and the assurance that you have done all you can to gird your car safely for a challenging Canadian winter.

While living in Saskatchewan I noticed that remarkably few of my peers bothered to switch to winter tires, all claiming that a combination of all-season tires, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and slowing down were just as good. This is not the case, and it isn't just tire manufacturers saying it. Every insurance institute and agency promotes and advocates the use of winter tires, as does CAA.

At the very least perhaps it is time that governments looked at mandating the use of winter tires between say November and April, at least on highways. They do this in BC, you cannot legally drive on high mountain passes without winter tires or chains, and with very good reason.

I have seen #11 between Davidson and Chamberlain just as messy as the worst I have ever seen on either the Coq or Sea to Sky, yet people drive between Saskatoon and Regina quite happily on tires that in winter, are as hard and inflexible as steel.