Quebec has given the import of right-hand-drive cars the thumbs down for the next six months so that they can evaluate safety concerns.

Quebec’s automobile insurance board, the Société de l’Assurance Automobile du Québec (SAAQ), is responsible for the move, supposedly worried about the safety of the car (Although for all we know, they could be using this as an excuse to raise insurance prices on RHD cars). However, many RHD car owners in Quebec say that their cars are perfectly safe, and are petitioning this move. Over 2,000 owners have signed the petition so far.

The SAAQ say there are over 3,000 right-hand-drive cars on the roads of Quebec, and they say that the trend is growing because of many good, used cars becoming available in Japan. Board spokesman Gaëtan Bergeron says that the cars aren’t designed for Quebec roads, and don’t always meet Transport Canada safety regulations. He has acknowledged that no fatalities have been caused by the RHD aspect of the vehicles, but the board wants to analyze accident reports and consult other cities before they consider lifting the ban. Until then, no more great Japanese cars for anyone in Quebec.

Source: CBC via Autoblog | Picture credit: rust.bucket / CC BY-ND 2.0