You Could Get Huge Fines If You Don't Follow These Quebec Winter Driving Rules
Winter is perpetually coming in Quebec and the last thing any car owner wants is to be stuck, unprepared, and without any clue of what to do when the first surprise winter storm pummels the province. So it's important to know some of Quebec's winter driving rules before the season hits.
Even veterans of our blustery winters get surprised when the first big snowstorm happens as if it's the first winter they've ever seen. Trust me, I've been there and I've lived here most of my life.
While winter driving can indeed be a comedy of errors, here's how you can avoid being the punchline this winter.
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The Most Essential: Winter Tires!
If you're new to Quebec and you have a car, you 100% have to invest in winter tires. There's literally no other choice.
And trust me, you're going to need them.
The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) stipulates that all cars must be equipped with winter tires from December 1 to March 15.
If you're caught without winter tires, you can incur a fine between $200 and $300.
The SAAQ highly recommends that you equip your winter tires before December 1 because a heavy snowfall in November is all but guaranteed.
Be Prepared For The Worst
[Prêt pour l'hiver?] ❄️ Pour certains, la vue de la 1ère neige est excitante, alors que pour d'autres, elle donne e… https://t.co/AzlBV1ZiS6— STM - Tellement Montréal (@STM - Tellement Montréal) 1604409206.0
In addition to winter tires, be sure to prepare your car for winter survival.
This means topping up your anti-freeze fluid, making sure your car is in good working condition, and perhaps most importantly, buying yourself a car brush and shovel.
Consider this: it's 7 in the morning and you're already late for work because an STM bus and like, 12 cars are stuck in the snow.
Your car is a literal igloo. You have no way of digging it out and you guess what? You forgot to buy gloves. Congratulations! You're screwed.
And don't even think about driving that "mobile igloo" if you manage to unstick yourself from the snowbank because that'll cost hundreds of dollars in fines.
The SAAQ says "a vehicle’s windshield and windows must be cleared of any matter that might reduce visibility for the driver" and "no person may drive a vehicle covered with ice, snow, or any other matter that may detach from the vehicle."
"The Ministère des Transports" also "recommends that you do a proper tune-up before the cold hits" just to make sure everything is in working order.
Finally, the SAAQ reminds you to "clear your exhaust pipe and ventilate the inside of your vehicle from time to time" to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
A Loud Siren WILL Wake You Up In A Panic At 5 A.M.
To avoid the embarrassment and potential hazard of rushing to move your car when the snow removal trucks come, there are a couple of simple things to remember.
In Montreal, snow removal crews put up signs prohibiting parking when a crew is anticipated to clean your street either the day of or the night before. There are similar rules in other municipalities.
While winter driving is stressful and can be a total mess, following these rules will make your commute better and give you peace of mind all winter long.