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Those driving right feeling wronged
PETER MCCABE FOR THE TORONTO STAR
Quebec's insurance board has banned registration of right-hand-drive cars, citing safety concerns. Montrealer Donovan Weekes, who owns an RHD, says it's not the cars that are to blame, it's the drivers who gawk at them.
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Owners angry as Quebec halts new registrations of right-hand-drive cars, citing safety concerns
May 30, 2009 04:30 AM
Andrew Chung
QUEBEC BUREAU CHIEF
MONTREAL – Last autumn Quebec drivers grumbled about being forced to buy winter tires. Lately, motorcyclists have been blocking roads over runaway fees.
Now it's specialty car enthusiasts feeling the wrath of a provincial government on a mission to rein in its roadways and their associated costs.
Quebec, claiming right-hand-drive cars are dangerous, has quietly imposed a moratorium on the increasingly popular vehicles by prohibiting all new registrations of them, catching both dealers and buyers off guard and raising ire.
"We are living in a capitalist society, but it's like we are being governed by Communists," said Alim Nekzad, who has a showroom in north Montreal full of right-hand-drive cars all souped up with nowhere to go.
Quebec is the first province to restrict registration of right-hand-drive vehicles. Amid all the fuss, however, is a government sitting pretty, if not smug. Quebec's roads are, indeed, getting safer.
Statistics from the province's public auto insurance board show deaths are down 18 per cent compared to this time last year, continuing a trend of the past three years. It's a similar story for injuries, says the Société de automobile du Québec.
"The results are encouraging, but we must maintain this pace of improvement," said SAAQ official Audrey Chaput, adding that the board has intensified its legislative efforts and collaboration with the police since 2007. In Quebec, the SAAQ insures against injuries, while also issuing licences and registrations and promoting road safety.
The government has not been shy in courting controversy over its roads of late.
Besides mandatory winter tires, motorcycle registration fees are going up – some by 340 per cent – to cover the cost of claims.
And earlier this week the SAAQ revealed its intention to ban anyone under 25 from operating powerful sport motorbikes.
The right-hand-drive ban has infuriated enthusiasts. They're planning a protest in front of SAAQ's Quebec City headquarters next month and already have 5,000 names on a petition.
There are about 3,000 such cars in Quebec and more than 70,000 across Canada.
Owners of cars registered before the moratorium may still drive their cars on the road.
"But it is becoming more and more popular, and the question is: Is it configured to be safe on our roads?" Chaput explained.
SAAQ is not issuing new registrations until November so it can study the issue.
Nekzad, manager of JDM Montreal, said dealers "didn't get any notice" of the ban and are now left with inventories. Chaput reiterated it's a matter of road safety.
The SAAQ cites a British Columbia study suggesting the vehicles increase accident risks by more than 40 per cent, and believes a right-side wheel makes it harder to see other cars while passing.
Mechanic Donovan Weekes, 24, who lives in Pierrefonds and owns a black Nissan Skyline turbo, disagrees. "I feel more comfortable passing in my car," he said.
If anything, Weekes said, the danger comes from other, curious drivers. "One time, a lady driving next to me did a double take and ended up on the sidewalk."
Nicolas Mailloux, 30, who owns a Suzuki Cappuccino, said it's not right to punish a whole group because of those who don't drive safely.
"It's not the car, it's the driver," he said, adding the SAAQ has admitted not knowing if any of the roughly 200 accidents last year involving right-hand-drive cars had anything to do with the position of the steering wheel.
Part of the appeal for enthusiasts is that the cars make them unique. Most come from Japan, where people drive on the left side of the road, and are all at least 15 years old. (Federal regulations prohibit the import of used cars newer than that.)
They're popular because they're typically rust-free, more powerful and have fewer miles on them compared to North American or European used cars.
TheStar.com | Canada | Those driving right feeling wronged
PETER MCCABE FOR THE TORONTO STAR
Quebec's insurance board has banned registration of right-hand-drive cars, citing safety concerns. Montrealer Donovan Weekes, who owns an RHD, says it's not the cars that are to blame, it's the drivers who gawk at them.
Print Print
Text Size Text Size Text Size Choose text size
Report Typo Report typo or correction
iCopyright License this article
AddThis
Owners angry as Quebec halts new registrations of right-hand-drive cars, citing safety concerns
May 30, 2009 04:30 AM
Andrew Chung
QUEBEC BUREAU CHIEF
MONTREAL – Last autumn Quebec drivers grumbled about being forced to buy winter tires. Lately, motorcyclists have been blocking roads over runaway fees.
Now it's specialty car enthusiasts feeling the wrath of a provincial government on a mission to rein in its roadways and their associated costs.
Quebec, claiming right-hand-drive cars are dangerous, has quietly imposed a moratorium on the increasingly popular vehicles by prohibiting all new registrations of them, catching both dealers and buyers off guard and raising ire.
"We are living in a capitalist society, but it's like we are being governed by Communists," said Alim Nekzad, who has a showroom in north Montreal full of right-hand-drive cars all souped up with nowhere to go.
Quebec is the first province to restrict registration of right-hand-drive vehicles. Amid all the fuss, however, is a government sitting pretty, if not smug. Quebec's roads are, indeed, getting safer.
Statistics from the province's public auto insurance board show deaths are down 18 per cent compared to this time last year, continuing a trend of the past three years. It's a similar story for injuries, says the Société de automobile du Québec.
"The results are encouraging, but we must maintain this pace of improvement," said SAAQ official Audrey Chaput, adding that the board has intensified its legislative efforts and collaboration with the police since 2007. In Quebec, the SAAQ insures against injuries, while also issuing licences and registrations and promoting road safety.
The government has not been shy in courting controversy over its roads of late.
Besides mandatory winter tires, motorcycle registration fees are going up – some by 340 per cent – to cover the cost of claims.
And earlier this week the SAAQ revealed its intention to ban anyone under 25 from operating powerful sport motorbikes.
The right-hand-drive ban has infuriated enthusiasts. They're planning a protest in front of SAAQ's Quebec City headquarters next month and already have 5,000 names on a petition.
There are about 3,000 such cars in Quebec and more than 70,000 across Canada.
Owners of cars registered before the moratorium may still drive their cars on the road.
"But it is becoming more and more popular, and the question is: Is it configured to be safe on our roads?" Chaput explained.
SAAQ is not issuing new registrations until November so it can study the issue.
Nekzad, manager of JDM Montreal, said dealers "didn't get any notice" of the ban and are now left with inventories. Chaput reiterated it's a matter of road safety.
The SAAQ cites a British Columbia study suggesting the vehicles increase accident risks by more than 40 per cent, and believes a right-side wheel makes it harder to see other cars while passing.
Mechanic Donovan Weekes, 24, who lives in Pierrefonds and owns a black Nissan Skyline turbo, disagrees. "I feel more comfortable passing in my car," he said.
If anything, Weekes said, the danger comes from other, curious drivers. "One time, a lady driving next to me did a double take and ended up on the sidewalk."
Nicolas Mailloux, 30, who owns a Suzuki Cappuccino, said it's not right to punish a whole group because of those who don't drive safely.
"It's not the car, it's the driver," he said, adding the SAAQ has admitted not knowing if any of the roughly 200 accidents last year involving right-hand-drive cars had anything to do with the position of the steering wheel.
Part of the appeal for enthusiasts is that the cars make them unique. Most come from Japan, where people drive on the left side of the road, and are all at least 15 years old. (Federal regulations prohibit the import of used cars newer than that.)
They're popular because they're typically rust-free, more powerful and have fewer miles on them compared to North American or European used cars.
TheStar.com | Canada | Those driving right feeling wronged
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