Archive for the ‘Canada’ Category

High Occupancy Vehicle lanes help reduce traffic congestion by encouraging carpools. In states like California and Virginia, they're also used as incentives for green car buyers, since drivers of approved hybrid and electric vehicles can cruise the HOV lanes even when traveling solo. Now comes news that Ontario is trying out a similar policy with its new "green vehicle" license plates. At first we were concerned that the tags might cause some backlash against hybrids (hey, it's happened elsewhere), but we hear that Canadians can be really polite about such things. [Gas2.org]

Like red light cameras, prohibitions on smoking in the workplace have become common in much of the Western world. But what happens when your workplace is your car -- or perhaps, your big rig? It's not such a hypothetical question in Ontario, where ten truckers have been hit with a $305 (Canadian) fine for smoking in the cabs of their trucks since the Smoke-Free Ontario Act was passed in May 2006. Now, we're not big fans of smoking, but maybe the Canadian authorities need something else to do. [NationalPost via JV]

In a one-two punch to the diversity of Canadian showrooms, both Saturn and Saab have announced that they're pulling out of the Great White North. The Penske Automotive Group, which is purchasing the Saturn brand from General Motors, has already notified Canada's 46 Saturn dealers that it won't be selling the brand in Canada after the sale is finalized later this year. GM has also announced that it won't be distributing any more Saabs to Canadian dealerships. On the bright side, Saab's situation may change after the brand's sale to Koenigsegg goes through. [FoxNews , Saabclub via JV]