Alberta drivers slowest in Canada to adjust to winter driving, insurer says

A driver gets ready for a tow truck to pull his car out of the ditch

near Sherwood Park in April 2011.

EDMONTON - Alberta drivers are the worst in Canada at making the switch to winter driving, show statistics released Wednesday by insurance company Aviva Canada.

The greatest increase in auto claims frequency by its customers in winter compared to the rest of the year occurs in Alberta, with a 66-per-cent increase. The numbers don’t reflect industry-wide figures, but only Aviva’s customers.

“This is 66 per cent more frequency as compared to the rest of the year for the province of Alberta when winter comes as opposed to summer or spring,” said Mauro Convertini, Aviva Canada vice-president of auto claims.

“Given the expansiveness of Alberta highways between major centres, you’ll find the storms come fast and heavy and typically cover the roads and create inclement-weather conditions for drivers pretty quickly.

“The other part of it is that Alberta does not have a mandatory snow tire policy, and the makeup of vehicles predominantly in the Alberta community is rear-wheel/front-wheel drive trucks. They typically need more preparedness for the winter season. The drivers of those vehicles underestimate the need for snow tires.”

New Brunswick is second at 60 per cent; followed by Nova Scotia at 53 per cent; Ontario and Quebec at 44 per cent; Prince Edward Island at 41 and Newfoundland and Labrador at 37 per cent.

Across Canada, Aviva sees an average increase of 49 per cent in customer auto claims between December and February. The company says icy roads, whiteouts and other winter hazards helped account for more than $37.1 million in auto-collision claim payments last winter.

According to a recent survey commissioned by Canadian Tire, Albertans are the least likely to outfit their cars with winter-rated tires. Of those surveyed in Alberta only 28 per cent indicated they head into winter with appropriate tires. By comparison, almost 40 per cent in other regions install winter tires.