Q: You still hear about people dying in completely survivable accidents because they weren’t wearing a seatbelt. Why in heavens would someone not buckle up in this day and age?

It’s sad but true: Not everyone is a regular belt user. But Canada does have one of the highest belt-usage rates in the world, at about 87 percent. Still, the government would like to raise the number to 95 percent by 2010, as part of its Road Safety Vision 2010 initiative. The program aims to decrease the number of deaths and serious injuries on Canadian roads by 30 percent, compared to 1996 to 2001 average figures.

Q: We’re going to be purchasing winter tires. Do you have any specific recommendations on which ones to look at?

There are more than 30 brands of winter tires available in Canada, and any of them will be a vast improvement on ice and snow over almost any all-season tire. My personal faves for performance are the Bridgestone Blizzak and Michelin X One, although both are at the pricey end of their segments. The Goodyear Ultra Grip is a good all-around performer, and it’s one of the best when price enters the equation. Keep in mind that even in the winter, most driving is done on dry pavement, and it’s always better to have four tires with roughly equal grip than two with extra-good grip. Meaning if you need new tires, try to go for four all around, whether winter or all-seasons. If your budget can only allow for two new ones, put them on the rear tires, no matter if your car is front, rear or all-wheel drive, because it’s much easier to notice and control sliding front tires than rears.

Q: I’m an idiot. I got a big speeding ticket. Is it worth fighting it in court?

Yes, definitely, particularly if you plan to plead guilty. Court officials will often downgrade the speed charged to encourage you to plead guilty, as an innocent plea takes up money and resources in court logs that are already often backed up to the extreme. There are services out there that can help represent you in traffic court, often staffed by former police officers, which are a good option if you’ve received a serious traffic citation that may cost you a major fine. Just remember that even if your speeding ticket has been reduced enough that there are no points removed from your driving abstract, it still appears on your driving record, which may cost you come insurance renewal time