Q&A - Tire Chains for 55 Passenger Bus
I am trying to get confirmation on the law regarding chain requirements for a BC commercial 55 passenger bus for winter driving.
The wording of the law is ambiguous. It states that school buses must carry chains and Commercial transport trucks must carry chains when driving on the highway, but that passenger vehicles are not required to carry chains.
I am being given conflicting information at work as to whether or I need to be carrying chains during winter months, and I am seeking clarification so as to be certain I am in compliance with the law.
Comments
Answer
The chain up rules are in the Motor Vehicle Act and Regulations:
Winter tires and traction devices
208 (1) For the purpose of this section, "winter tire" means a tire that meets the standards and specifications prescribed for winter tires.
(2) The minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act may, by public notice or by placing signs, prohibit any vehicle or a class of vehicles from being driven or operated on a highway, unless the vehicle is equipped with chains, winter tires or traction devices, or a combination of these, that the minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act considers adequate in view of prevailing road conditions.
(3) A public notice or sign under subsection (2) may provide differently in relation to specified dates, prevailing weather conditions or any other criteria the minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act considers necessary or advisable.
(4) A person who drives or operates a vehicle in contravention of a prohibition made under subsection (2) commits an offence.
Chains
7.163 A reference to chains in a public notice or sign under section 208 of the Act refers to chains or traction devices.
Currently, the notice most will see is this sign:
It does not show a bus, but the people at CVSE tell me that your bus is considered to be the same as the commercial vehicles on the right half of the sign.
What is really important to you is what CVSE said about enforcement. Regardless of the fact that the current law seems somewhat ambiguous, if you drive up to a chain up notice and don't have chains you will be invited to wait or turn around by police or CVSE if present.
I'm not a lawyer, but your company may wish to obtain legal counsel on the matter. If you drove by and did not comply and something happened, I would not be surprised if you were leaving yourself open to liability as well.