As The Temperatures Drop, Our Stress Levels Rise: Goodyear Poll

From Vancouver to St. John's, Snow on the Roads Brings White Knuckles on the Wheel

TORONTO, Nov. 22 /CNW/ - The signs have begun to appear: NHL hockey on the TV, leaves on the ground and a chill in the air — Old Man Winter is just around the corner, and he's ready to deal us a side order of stress along with the usual serving of snow and ice.  According to a new poll sponsored by Goodyear Canada, despite our reputation as winter warriors, nearly seven in 10 (69 per cent) Canadians admit that they find driving in snowy, icy conditions stressful. The poll also reveals that more than half of us (51 per cent) avoid driving in bad weather altogether, causing us to miss a range of professional and personal obligations every winter.

"When it comes to winter, you can choose to hibernate or you can get prepared — and for most Canadians, hibernation isn't an option," said Ian Law, Chief Instructor, ILR Car Control School and an expert in winter driving techniques.  "When it comes to your car, getting prepared should start with getting winter tires — driving without them is like wearing dress shoes on a hockey rink."

Snowed In
Winter conditions cause many of us to be no-shows:

• 39 per cent have missed a social gathering with friends (e.g. party)
• 35 per cent have missed an extracurricular activity (e.g. sporting event, club)
• 28 per cent have missed work
• 21 per cent have missed a child's activity
• 19 per cent missed a medical appointment
• 10 per cent have missed a date

Coping Strategies
Canadians have many ways of dealing with stressful driving conditions:

• 95 per cent slow down/drive more carefully
• 84 per cent concentrate more
• 40 per cent turn off the radio
• 40 per cent take deep breaths
• 31 per cent pull over and stop driving
• 13 per cent sing, hum or whistle

Winter Commutes
Two thirds of Canadians (67 per cent) report that their commuting times increase in the winter.  Specifically:

• 53 per cent say their total commuting time increases by up to 30 minutes
• 8 per cent report an increase of 30-45 minutes
• 6 per cent report an increase of 45 minutes or more

Goodyear's Winter driving tips:

• Winterize your car
  Add the proper amount of antifreeze to the engine coolant. It will protect your car against freezing and corrosion. Check the battery to make sure you have ample power for cold winter starts.
  
  
• Be prepared for the unexpected
  Leave an emergency safety kit in the trunk of your vehicle. Include: a flashlight with extra batteries, first aid kit, blankets, water bottles and booster cables.
  
  

• Tire Inflation
  Check tire pressure at least once a month; more often during the winter.  As the temperature drops, so does the pressure in tires.
  
  

• Check Your Tire Treads
  Inspect the tread wear indicator bars molded into your tires. The bars are located at the bottoms of the tread grooves in several locations around the tire.
  
  

• Get Winter Tires
  Winter road conditions are harsher and winter tires are specifically designed to provide excellent traction and braking in deep snow conditions as well as stability and control on slushy roads.

For more tips on winter driving safety please visit: www.goodyear.ca

Interview Opportunity:
Ian Law, Chief instructor, ILR Car Control School is available for interviews to discuss the importance of winter tires.

About Goodyear Canada
Goodyear Canada Inc. is a leading manufacturer of tires for automotive and commercial/industrial markets.  The company has operations and offices in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, in addition to a national network of committed independent retailers.  Goodyear Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio.

The Goodyear Poll was conducted from September 9th through September 12^th, 2010 using teleVox, Harris/Decima's telephone omnibus.  A total of 1000 Canadians were surveyed. Results for the full sample are considered accurate +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. 

For further information:

or to arrange an interview:
Lisa Mills/Carrie Makrigiannis
416-969-2831 / 416-969-2750
[email protected] / [email protected]