Snow and black ice: what to do if you start to slide
Created: 2022-12-10 3:34 p.m
By: Kilian Bäuml
The winter weather presents many drivers with challenges.
If the roads are slippery and the car is slipping, these tips will help.
Kassel – The weather in winter can be treacherous, a difference of just a few degrees Celsius is enough to freeze a wet road.
This increases the danger for motorists enormously, because the car can start to slide.
This leads to numerous accidents every year.
A forecast even predicts the coldest winter in years for this year.
If you still can't do without your car, you can stay safer on the roads in winter with a few tips, reports hna.de.
It's easier to slide in winter weather.
(Iconic image) © K. Schmitt/Imago
Snow and black ice: Winter weather increases braking distances
First of all, it must be made clear that every situation is different.
Therefore there is no universal advice that will help in every situation.
Nevertheless, drivers can take a few things into account to help avoid accidents on slippery roads, writes
Autozeitung
.
As a driver you can pay attention to:
Keep sufficient distance:
The braking distance increases on slippery roads.
You should therefore drive particularly carefully and keep your distance.
What is enough for braking along the route in summer is often not enough in winter.
Reduce Speed:
When the weather makes road conditions unpredictable, slowing down will give you more control.
Accelerate and brake carefully and steer carefully:
Fast steering movements can cause the car to swerve.
If this happens, drivers can depress the clutch and carefully countersteer to stabilize their car.
Low rpm:
This ensures the best power transmission, in addition, you should upshift early.
If the wheels are already spinning when starting off, it can help to shift into second gear straight away.
Snow and black ice: prepare for winter trips
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle, so you should winterize your car as much as possible.
Above all, restricted visibility poses a great risk, for example due to iced windows.
If an accident occurs as a result, the insurance company can reduce its benefits and justify it with your own fault, writes
TÜV Nord
.
Fines are also imposed for windows with restricted visibility.
It is therefore always advisable to have an ice scraper or antifreeze in the car.
Switching on the engine and thereby preheating the car is not a good idea.
This increases fuel consumption, pollutes the environment and wears out the engine, writes the
ADAC
.
A fine can also be issued for this.
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My space
weather | braking distance |
|---|---|
Ice | 100 meters |
snow | 37 meters |
wetness | 20 metres |
Dry | 11 meters |
(Source: ADAC) |
Road accidents: This is how many people die every year
Numerous accidents occur every day on the road.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, more than 350,000 people were injured in traffic this year.
Several thousand fatalities were also recorded.
In 2022, more people died on German roads than in the previous year.
Year | road deaths |
2022 | 2790 people |
2021 | 2562 people |
increase | 9 percent |
(Source: Federal Statistical Office) |
Nevertheless, the numbers are below the values from before the pandemic, the Federal Statistical Office continues.
As far as insurance and a few other things are concerned, things are set to change for motorists next year.
(kiba)