OK I'll try to explain some points.
First, you must know that in Québec, we have the SAAQ (as mentionned in the article). They provide standard DMV services, like plates and driving license, but they also provide an universal "personal damage" coverage for all Québec residents for every accident related to cars. We all pay $60+ (I don't know exactly) each year on our license for that coverage (which we don't have to pay through a private insurance compagny, obviously) and we get coverage for physical damage in a car accident, or even physical damage if we are hit by a car as a pedestrian for example.
You must also know that the funds of the SAAQ were "wrongly" taken to finance other spheres of the governement. So right now, the SAAQ is in the red.
So, when the SAAQ sees those new kind of cars, and they see those awful "statistics", they sure don't want to pay, so they ban them. Problem is that the statistics they base their judgment on are either wrong or biaised. The only real study was done in British Columbia by the association of insurers or something...
So they decided to ban for 6 months. But you see, the 6 months expired in November 09... They could not prove that RHD caused more accidents, so they decided to continue the "temporary" ban for another 6 months....
And there is another reason why they would want to ban them... Pure politics... the current Québec governement is pursuing all the car and bike enthusiasts for the sake of "safety". And it works, with all the baby boomers agreeing blindly!! They introduced speed cameras and red light cameras. They introduced bigger fines for excessive speeding (remember they are broke). They doubled, tripled and even quadrupled the cost of a motorcycle driving license (they say its because they are dangerous on the road... but it's because they are broke). They ban RHD cars for.. who knows how much time now... all for safety. But we all know it's because it's a joke to get your driving license here. Make driving school harder and more useful, with winter driving, night driving courses. That will reduce accidents.
Anyway sorry for the rant.
