Toy Test Report Reaction

With Halloween behind us, the countdown to Christmas is underway, retailers will be stocking the shelves with what they hope will be the most popular toys of the season. The Canadian Toy Association is out today with its Top Picks.

Related links: The complete list

A Star Wars Lego set was one of the favourite picks, as was a new Hot Wheels Trick Tracks Power Loop Stunt Set Track and there were several other toys that looked like fun.

But I've got to say I'd be worried about the Nerf machine gun shown launching darts and even the chopper type toy with whirling blades.

And --a Mega Brands -Struxx T-Rex for over $100 looks cool, but the robotics weren't working properly at the CTA's exhibit - as the president Geoff Hurst was showing it to a CTV crew.

They got it working. But if it has problems in the showroom, how is it supposed to work at home? It's a potential source of frustration for a child.

If you really want to know which toys kids like to play with over time, and which toys stand up to the trauma kids can dish out, you will need to do some more homework.

Today's Parent has its 2008 list of top toys for kids-- from preschoolers to pre-teens--out now. These are toys tested by 200 families with kids in the Toronto and Ottawa area with particular attention paid to toys with lasting play value, durability and safety.

You can check it out Online as well.

Related links: Today's Parent

Other resources include the Canadian Toy Testing Council report. That comes out at the end of next week. Consumer Reports also does independent testing and their those results will be out in December.

I will have highlights then.

Meanwhile, if you want to know the toys a preschooler will play with the most, as the experts. They point to the old stand by's, like a tea set and a basic block set.

Wet Road Caution

In British Columbia's Lower Mainland, most of us think we're experts at driving in the rain. But we don't have the same opinion of the other drivers.

"Everyone thinks they are a good driver, but not everyone is as capable as the best drivers to drive in the rain," summarized one downtown driver recently.

ICBC says when the rain hits, the number of accidents shoot up. Last October and November -- hundreds were hurt in weather related crashes in B.C.

"In those crashes, 490 people were injured or killed," says Sonny Senghera, of ICBC.

The first hour of rain after a dry spell is the worst as oil rises to the surface making the roads slick.

The testers at Consumer Reports show why wet roads are so dangerous.

They measure braking distance on dry and wet pavement at 100 kilometers per hour. They attached a machine to a test car which measures the distance between hitting the brakes and when the car actually stops. On dry pavement, this car traveled 43 meters until it stopped.

Then, testers wet down the track.

It turns out that a little moisture makes a big difference when it comes to your safety. On wet pavement, it took the car another seven meters --50 meters -- to stop. So even if it's only raining lightly, you want to be sure to leave more room between you and the car in front of you.

And with the time change also comes more accidents. Today, the Monday after the time changes is often the worst.

"We took a look at our data for last year and we realized the first Monday after the fall time change our crashes increased 18 percent," said Senghera.

Yikes. And over the week, as people adjust to the dark commute, accident rates return to normal.

And it you haven't checked your tires lately, now is a good time to do it. In the rain, these worn out tires with the steel belts poking through just won't grip the road.

There is one other thing to keep in mind when driving in the rain. To compensate for longer stopping distances, just drive slower.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen