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!

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