MONTREAL: Collisions are 30% higher in the province of Quebec during the winter months than during warmer weather. Groupement des assureurs automobiles (GAA) is reminding all drivers it is important to adapt their driving to winter road conditions. (It is believed the situation is the same in all provinces across Canada.)
Statistics compiled by GAA show that, in 2019, there were 225,858 car accidents in the 1st and 4th quarters of the year, up 27% from the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
Winter tires, which are mandatory in Quebec, provide better traction on roads, but are no substitute for driver caution.
GAA stresses the importance of reducing speed when road conditions are not favorable and maintaining enough distance between your vehicle and the one in front so that you can break-in time. This reduces the risk of being involved in an at-fault collision and avoids having the loss added to your file.
“We see this trend every year: there are more road accidents during the winter months, and many are avoidable. It’s therefore important that drivers be twice as careful and thus avoids a nasty accident”, said Anne Morin, Supervisor, Public Affairs, at GAA.
If you do have an accident, it is recommended that you always have a Joint Report handy, whether in paper format, or eformat on your cell.
That way you can quickly inform your insurer about the accident that just took place. “The app is very user-friendly and allows the insurer to receive readable information quickly. It makes settling a claim much easier”, noted Ms. Morin.- CNW Telbec