TÜV SÜD: Cars must be well prepared for winter roads – but so should drivers
TÜV SÜD: Cars must be well prepared for winter roads – but so should drivers
The anti-freeze has been topped up, the winter tyres are fitted: most drivers have prepared their cars well for the first snow. However, year in year out, traffic congestions and fender benders on the first days of frost and snow demonstrate that unfortunately, the same cannot be said for drivers themselves. The frantic pace of the holiday season only makes this phenomenon worse. TÜV SÜD's experts give tips on how to get your vehicle safely through wintry conditions.
"Winter's here: Over 20 accidents in two hours" is a headline that recurs year after year. The causes are only too familiar, and include failure to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, high speeds, hesitant drivers or drivers who overestimate their driving abilities, and sometimes even motorists who are still driving around with summer tyres even though the use of winter tyres has been made mandatory in Germany. Particularly when the first snowflakes fall, chaos rules the roads, which become choked by kilometres of congestion and minor accidents. When frost and the festive season coincide, the situation for road traffic and road safety takes a dramatic turn for the worse. TÜV SÜD's experts advise, "Once roads are covered by snow, it is helpful to go and practice winter driving techniques in an empty car park to become familiar with the way your car handles on ice and snow. Even trying out the brakes at slow speeds can often make drivers feel more secure", says Eberhard Lang, TÜV SÜD. But remember: check the rear mirror before you apply the brakes!
Plan carefully: On icy roads, road safety plunges, purely because of driving physics. There is even less tolerance of driving mistakes, and before you know it, an accident has occurred. Given that conditions are poor from the outset, it makes good sense to consider each trip carefully, combine individual trips and avoid rush hours; this minimizes the accident risk and is good for your nerves and the general traffic situation.
Keep your distance: Increasing your distance from other road users is a must whenever roads suddenly turn icy. Allow for more stopping distance in wintry conditions on slippery roads. The greater your distance from the car ahead, the more time you have to react.
However, avoid frantic braking as a method of keeping your distance, and never step on the accelerator. Take your foot off the accelerator slowly and brake gently to avoid endangering the traffic behind you.
Keep your calm: Violent steering movements and sharp acceleration increase the risk of skidding. Always slow down well before corners and steer smoothly and evenly throughout the corner. As far as speed is concerned, moderation is the watchword. Do not increase speed while cornering. If the front wheels lose grip in spite of these precautions, carefully take your foot off the accelerator to ensure the tyres regain traction as quickly as possible. If your car has an ABS system, apply the brakes as you normally do – the electronics maintain traction and ensure maximum braking action. This also applies when your car threatens to skid: should your car lose track, the ABS will safely apply the brakes, preventing major damage.
Skilful deceleration: Stopping distances increase on icy roads. Deceleration is best achieved by alternating pedal braking and engine braking; when applying engine braking, the type of vehicle – front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive – is also important. Most modern vehicles have ABS, which automatically prevents the wheels from locking. If the car starts skidding despite ABS, continue to apply the brakes until the tyres build up their grip again. An important point to note if your car is not equipped with an anti-lock braking system is that you must prevent your wheels from locking!
Base your choices on foresight: If you are taken by surprise by unexpected snow or ice, always keep in mind that motorways and main roads will be cleared first. Given this, TÜV SÜD experts recommend that motorists keep to the main roads and avoid minor side roads.
Contact: Frank Volk