Higher gas prices are cancelling Atlantic Canadians road trips, a new survey shows.
A survey from the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada shows that higher gas prices will prompt 79 per cent of Atlantic drivers to cancel or limit their road trips this summer.
According to a press release, 87 per cent of respondents still plan to take at least a one day or overnight trip.
However, those trips will be done locally, with only 10 per cent heading stateside this year.
The survey also shows that 76 per cent of the respondents believe higher fuel costs will become the new normal.
The association suggests checking for proper tire inflation to save fuel costs and improve safety.
Carol Hochu, president and CEO of the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada, said in the release that regular tire pressure checks, reducing idling, maintaining a steady speed, accelerating gently and coating to decelerate all contribute to a “better fuel economy and meaningful savings at the pump.”
“The good news is that the majority of vehicles on the roads today provide drivers with real-time tire pressure information, giving those drivers the opportunity to maintain their tire pressure more consistently,” she said.
She added that drivers without this technology tend to be “less consistent” in checking tire pressure, which can lead to a “reduce fuel economy,” shorter tire life and higher operating costs.
According to Statistic Canada, in 2024 Canadians purchased 43.8 billion litres of gasoline.
At the average improvement level of 0.6 per cent, proper tire inflation would save 262.6 million litres of fuel, or about $444 million, and prevent more than 600,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions.
To measure tire pressure correctly, drivers can follow four steps:
- Find the recommended inflation pressure for your tires on the vehicle placard, commonly located on the driver’s door jamb. If you can’t find it, check the owner’s manual for its location.
- Measure when the tires are cold. If you have been driving more than two kilometres, wait three hours before measuring.
- Use a tire gauge when measuring pressure. Remove the cap from the valve stem, press the tire gauge onto the valve and take the pressure reading.
- Add air until the recommended air pressure is achieved. If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the centre of the valve, then re-check the pressure.
More tire-care tips can be found on the association’s website.
