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Today’s conditions and collisions generally led to the same conversation or question: should drivers be forced to have winter tires on their vehicles?

We found that Ontarians believe in the effectiveness of winter tires, they just don’t want to be told what to do.

It seems to be the norm. A day with snow, is a day of collisions. But if winter tires are proven to reduce collisions, should they become mandatory?

Ron Eldridge: “I don’t really think so no. Not necessary. Especially if you’re just in the city.”

But the evidence is hard to deny. Winter tires became mandatory in Quebec prior to the fall of 2008. At that time, 96 percent of drivers were already using winter tires. Even with the modest increase, there was a 5% drop in collision injuries that year. A recent survey shows that 56 percent of drivers in Ontario, like Mike Ecclestone have snow tires. But he says we don’t need legislation: “I guess from a safety perspective it makes sense but I don’t think it should be mandatory, No.”

Others say the onus is still on the individual.

Rick Merchista: “I had someone pass me at a high speed today and whether he had snow tires or not that was just foolishness and nonsense and almost caused me to lose control.”

So even on a day like this where the road conditions are bad, not only are drivers saying this but members of the government are saying the same thing, that they prefer that someone have the choice to make the decision towards safety.”

Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca says that the government has no plans to make winter tires mandatory, and even he doesn’t have them: “I think that there are a lot of options out there for individuals who may want to purchase snow tires of course and so I think that is a decision that is best left to the individual motorists.”

And Tory Transportation Critic Michael Harris maintains that snow tires are the right choice, but that doesn’t mean government should act: “But at the end of the day, it’s just good for your family and for others on the road to have winter tires on like myself.”

Now one of the common misconceptions is that all-season tires work in place of winter tires. It’s important to make that distinction. Winter tires are made from a softer rubber designed to keep their grip in freezing cold temperatures while all seasons are effective in spring summer and fall, but they lose most of their grip once the temperature falls below 7 Celsius. So if you think your all seasons are doing the job, you might want to think again.