Surging gas prices to stall summer road trips for many Canadians, survey suggests
The surging price of gasoline shows no signs of stopping and that's starting to affect how people are planning their summer holidays.
A summer road trip survey by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) found that 66 per cent of drivers plan to cancel or limit their road trips this summer. That number jumps to 75 per cent for younger drivers between 18 and 24 years old.
“Our survey found that 80 per cent think that high fuel prices are here to stay. So why not look for ways to save money if you can?” said TRAC President Carol Hochu.
First and foremost, anyone with winter tires still on their cars should be taking them off now that the warm weather has finally arrived.
“Once the temperatures are consistently above seven degrees Celsius and thank goodness that's where we are at now, it's really time to make that change over from winter tires to your summer or all season tires,” said Hochu.
TRAC is also reminding drivers to check their tire pressure monthly, when tires are cold as under inflated tires hurt your fuel economy and properly inflated tires can save you 0.6 per cent to three per cent in fuel costs.
TRAC says along with checking your tire pressure, check the tread wear and for bulges or cracks in your tires. To save money on fuel remove roof racks or roof top carriers if they are not being used, drive the speed limit and accelerate smoothly to avoid wasting fuel.
Another way for residents of Ontario to try and save money is to take advantage of Ontario’s 2022 Staycation Tax Credit.
“If you are planning a summer getaway it's important to keep the receipts because you are going to need them for anything that is related to accommodation expenses" said Adriana Molina, Education Manager with Credit Canada.
Molina said anyone who is planning to vacation within Ontario this year should take advantage of the Staycation Tax Credit which allows you to get a tax break on your 2022 taxes if you stay at a hotel, motel, resort, lodge, bed & breakfast, cottage or campground.
The tax credit is $1,000 for an individual or $2,000 for a family which can get you back $200 to $400 respectively on your taxes next year.
"Hopefully it will encourage Ontario families to stay in the province to stay in Ontario and also help the tourism and hospitality sector recover from the pandemic" said Molina.
The tax credit is only for leisure travel and not business related trips, but it may help take away some of the financial sting when you have to fill up your tank if you go on vacation in the province.
There are predictions gas prices could rise another 5 cents a litre this week and 5 cents more next week. Even though more drivers say they plan to stay home, prices are traditionally higher in the summer as drivers hit the road for their summer holidays.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Princess Anne to take part in B.C. ceremony bringing new ship into Pacific fleet
Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
NEW Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Feds giving Toronto more than $104M to host 2026 FIFA World Cup
The federal government will provide Toronto just over $104 million in funding to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Police move in to clear NYU encampment, U.S. campus arrests grow to 2,200 in pro-Palestinian protests
Police moved in to clear an encampment at New York University on Friday at the request of school officials, a move that follows weeks of pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in nearly 2,200 arrests by police.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
Parents of infant who died in wrong-way crash on Ontario's Hwy. 401 were in same vehicle
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has released new details about a wrong-way collision in Whitby on Monday night that claimed the lives of four people.