Dig, rock and plan your trips with foresight
Dig, rock and plan your trips with foresight
Deep snowdrifts, snow-covered motorways and wintry roads. At the edge of the Alps and low mountain ranges, rain and storms were followed by vast amounts of snow. Motorists travelling at higher altitudes must expect difficult road conditions over the coming days. TÜV SÜD's experts give important tips for motorists to take the necessary precautions to avoid accidents, and advise them what to do if they end up getting stuck. They also explain the correct use of snow chains.
Consider carefully: In general, cars are definitely not the transport of choice on snow and ice. Anyone that can take the option of travelling by train or stay at home should do so. If a car journey is unavoidable, TÜV SÜD expert Philip Puls recommends that drivers heed the following advice before setting off: "Drivers should definitely make more time for their journeys." Before setting out for alpine regions, drivers should definitely inform themselves about the risk of avalanches. To be on the safe side, a tow-rope – or even better, a tow rod – jump leads, warm blankets, a hand broom, an ice scraper, snow chains and of course the high-visibility vest should be in every car. And on the subject of high-visibility vests, "motorists caught in a snowdrift or roadside ditch who are unable to get out on their own should definitely leave their cars and warn other road users of the obstruction by switching on their hazard warning lights and putting up their warning triangles", advises Puls. "Staying in the car is extremely dangerous under these circumstances", warns the road expert.
Exercise moderation: Generally, motorists who are stuck first try to get their cars moving again on their own, as can be witnessed time and again in scenes of frantic revving and spinning tyres. This only makes matters worse, however. It is better to increase the load on the driving axle and accelerate carefully. The second gear is best for this purpose. Also important: carefully observe the traffic while undertaking attempts to free the car.
Rock to get rolling: Where patience and applying load are of no avail, motorists can resort to a combination of the two: rocking the car to and fro. To do so, drivers must get their cars swinging by alternately pressing the gas pedal and releasing the clutch at regular intervals. The rocking distance must then be carefully extended and the rocking momentum used to get the car over the obstacle. Motorists driving a car with automatic transmission must alternate skilfully between the R and D position of the gear lever.
Get a grip: As a helpful hint when trying to get your car unstuck, a door mat or special grid placed under the wheel of the driving axle provides the necessary grip and traction. But ensure that people in the vicinity of the car keep their distance. Items placed under wheels may turn into missiles.
Shovelling: A shovel, snow chains and lamps are helpful in escaping the grip of the snow. Blankets and warm drinks prove valuable when motorists have to wait for help. TÜV SÜD's tip: when shovelling snow, take care to clear the snow both in front of and behind the wheels on the driving axle and make sure that both the axle and the underbody are free. Clearing the snow from the wheels is useless if the car itself is actually sitting on a mound of snow.
Chaining up: A set of snow chains or snow socks is a good thing to carry along. To escape from a snow drift, snow socks are sufficient. An important point to note is that many countries restrict the use of snow socks to a method of traction assistance to get moving. Motorists driving in snowy regions should always take along snow chains. They are needed whenever the use of snow chains is signposted as mandatory. Drivers are urgently recommended to practise fitting snow chains at home, as fitting the chains for the first time on the road in adverse weather conditions is not advisable.
Caution: Austria is the only country that has introduced special technical regulations for snow chains. There, the 'Ö-Norm' mark (indicating that the chains are approved in accordance with Austrian standards) must be displayed on the packaging. Unlike studded tyres, some studded quick-fit snow chains are permitted in Germany.
Towing: If the car has become damaged after skidding and has to be towed, use a rod instead of a rope on icy roads. Otherwise keeping your distance from the car in front may turn into a gamble. TÜV SÜD's experts therefore advise motorists to always keep a tow-rod in the boot during winter.
Mind the gap: Roads may be treacherous in winter. Keeping an adequate distance is very important now, particularly also from snow ploughs and gritters. They put the patience of many drivers to the test: "On the motorway in particular, drivers should keep at a sufficient distance from snow ploughs and refrain from overtaking", says Puls. Snow ploughs and gritters frequently drive in a group, turning overtaking into a dangerous manoeuvre. Slush and salt spray hits the windscreen, significantly impairing visibility. Smart motorists choose the freshly cleared lane behind the snow patrol.
Traffic congestions in winter: If wintry conditions cause a complete standstill of traffic, even the best driving tips and digging techniques will get us nowhere. Given this, motorists travelling to winter regions should have provisions, hot tea and blankets in their cars to be prepared for waiting times and endure them without hardship.
Contact: Frank Volk