Interesting Canadian Car-Related Facts
Love cars? So do we. Here are some interesting facts related to vehicles in Canada just for you.
Stolen vehicles
In 2018, CBC News reported that car theft is up in Canada by 6% with some provinces affected more than others. And interestingly, the most stolen car is the Ford F-350, with 8 different versions in the top 10 stolen cars.
In 2017, 85,000 vehicles were reported stolen in Canada. Stolen Canadian vehicles are smuggled into countries such as Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Belgium, Germany, and Italy.
Accidents
It is estimated that there are 160,000 car accidents every year in Canada. Over $1 million worth of vehicle damage is caused by moose-related car accidents each year.
Snow removal
Many city budgets go towards snow removal each year, but one Canadian city spends more than the others. Montreal has half the population of Toronto but spends double (about $155 million) on snow removal each year.
Left or right?
Driving in Canada was mixed in the provinces with being left or right-sided until 1947, when Newfoundland made the final switch to the right-hand side. The differences occurred because of the British (left) and French (right) influences. The right-hand side was preferable because driving is on the right in the US; therefore, the border changes would have become an issue if Canada continued to drive on the left.
Most popular vehicles
The best-selling vehicles in Canada in 2018 were the Ford F-series, Ram 1500, and Honda Civic. The Canadian vehicle market is leaning increasingly towards SUVs and pick-up trucks, and small vehicles such as the Fiat 500 and Smart Car will soon disappear.
Vehicle production
In 2016, 1.3 million vehicles were produced in Canada. Canada contributes 13% of all vehicles produced in North America and is the 10th leading vehicle producer in the world.
Winter tires
Quebec is the only province where it is legally mandatory to have winter tires between December 15th and March 15th. It isn’t legally mandatory across the entirety of British Columbia, but there are some places, particularly in mountainous areas, where winter tires are also required.
Although Canada is one of the coldest countries in the world, it is surprising that winter tires are not required by law. In Germany, the rules regarding winter tires have recently been tightened, and Germans know that they should ideally have winter tires on from October to Easter. If they are caught without them and there is snow or ice, or if they are involved in an accident, they must pay a special fine.
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