Munich. In the morning traffic on the A8 major road near Holzkirchen, the drivers' faces are barely visible through the hastily cleared patches on the fogged-up windscreens. The traffic is making progress, but speeds of more than 60 to 80 kilometres per hour are not possible on the winter roads. Too slow for some truck drivers, who try to get ahead by roaring past the cars. These examples show that the main danger lies not only in icy roads, but also in the behaviour of some road users. Here are some tips from TÜV SÜD for safe driving in wintry conditions.
It's the same picture every winter: traffic jams, slippery roads and poor visibility – self-induced – are obstacles to drivers' accustomed mobility, and snowploughs are just another obstruction – for many drivers, things are moving too slowly. When icy roads and haste are added to the mix, stress is the result. As a consequence, drivers over-estimate their abilities and under-estimate the dangers lurking in the road conditions, tempting even professionals like truck drivers to attempt overtaking manoeuvres in icy conditions. "The first commandment in winter is to plan plenty of time and to consider whether it is really necessary to take the car for your journey, or whether it would be better to use a different method of transport", advises Philip Puls from TÜV SÜD. Unsure drivers are particularly advised to leave their cars at home when winter hits the roads. A further tip: avoidance of short journeys is especially sensible in winter, and short trips should be combined wherever possible.
Think first: Driving in snow and ice is always a safety risk. For this reason it is better to start planning which trips are absolutely essential on the previous evening or before the start of the week. Short trips such as shopping trips are easy to combine with a little planning. Car pools for school or work runs are also a good way of minimizing time spent driving on slippery roads.
Get up early: Clear visibility is absolutely vital in winter. All car windows must be properly cleared of ice and snow – otherwise a crash may ensue, and a ten-euro fine may be another consequence. This also applies to rear visibility; don't forget the wing mirrors when clearing your windscreen.
Be a late starter: When the engine is cold, fuel consumption can rise to as much as 40 litres per 100 kilometres, also increasing exhaust emissions. In this state the catalytic converter is still inactive, and the engine does not warm up and reach its normal performance at normal fuel consumption until around four kilometres have been driven. So make sure you perform any activities such as buckling your safety belt or clearing the windows before starting the engine, and then drive off immediately, making use of every drop of fuel to actually move forward!
Leave in good time: It would seem only logical that driving on winter roads takes longer than in summer. And yet many drivers pile on the stress, under the impression that they are making slow progress. As a result their concentration is poor, and they put their foot down and attempt daring overtaking manoeuvres – and may end up crashing. To avoid this, plan extra time for all trips. "Calmness and concentration are essential for safe driving", advises Philip Puls.
Leave space: Adequate space is paramount on winter roads. To drive safely, it is particularly important to keep your distance from the vehicle in front – including snowploughs or gritters, a tough test of patience for many drivers. "Especially on motorways, it is important to maintain sufficient distance from road-clearing vehicles and to refrain from overtaking", warns Puls. Snowploughs and gritters often proceed as a team in a convoy, making overtaking a dangerous enterprise if sprays of slush and salt land on the windscreen and obscure visibility. Smart drivers will fall into place behind the ploughs because they can be sure of driving on a freshly cleared road surface.
Think: This year, as always, cars with running engines are everywhere - waiting to pick up the children outside school, in the drive-in queue or at level-crossings. Modern engines save fuel even when switched off for a few minutes – and fears that the engine will not start again in cold weather are groundless with today's cars, say the experts at TÜV SÜD. Make sure, then, to switch off the engine even for short periods of waiting.
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