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Derek Lewers, a researcher for SENSE B.C., an advocacy group for drivers, wondered what problem Eby was trying to solve with the idea of mandating winter tires. He said the problem may not be tires, but instead a lack of education and experience in driving in winter conditions. He also pointed out that it would be difficult to enforce.

“We’ve been getting away and surviving without it all this time, and I think it’s just a knee-jerk emotional reaction from the attorney general. Hopefully calmer heads,” said Lewers, who is based in the Victoria area.

B.C. has many major routes where winter tires — marked with the letters M and S or the mountain and snowflake symbol, and with at least 3.5 millimetres of tread depth — or chains are required between Oct. 1 and April 30. They’re mostly in the northern part of the province and the southern Interior.

They are marked by signs and the rules are enforced by police. Those who do not comply can be turned away and fined. The fine for passenger vehicles not equipped with winter tires when and where required is $121.

Municipal and private roads, such as ski hills, may have their own rules around winter tires that differ from provincial highway regulations.

Because of its more temperate winter climate, drivers are not required to use winter tires in many areas of the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island.

“The extreme winter events which we experienced this past week happen three, four maybe five days, once a year, every couple of years,” said B.C. Liberal MLA and former transportation minister, Todd Stone. “It would represent a pretty significant financial hardship on people to require them to go out and have to purchase winter tires for such an infrequent event in the Lower Mainland.”

A set of winter tires can cost from $600 to $1,500, depending on the type of vehicle and where they’re purchased.

jensaltman@postmedia.com

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