Driving

Before Leaving Home

• Equip yourself. You’ll need the best wheel chains for the maximum grip and safety (get the right size for your cars tyres) – with diamond-pattern (not ladder) being strongly recommended. Vehicles fitted with these chains will be given priority access to resorts in heavy snow conditions;
• Carry a spade, tow rope, ground sheet (for fitting chains), rubber gloves, plastic ice scraper, torch and warm clothes;
• Use anti-freeze compound in the radiator and take along spare heater and radiator hoses. Make sure the battery is clean and in good condition;
• Make sure all lights are working, check the condition of your tyres (including the spare) and increase the pressure in your tyres;
• Check that your roof rack is well secured;
• Practice fitting chains before you leave home to ensure they are the correct size for your tyres;
• Include a spare key. (Someone in the party should have a spare key to the car. If you lose it skiing or coming home from a night out it will be difficult to recover in the snow. Many people wire a second key to a secret location under the car).

Snow Driving – The Basics

• Observe local speed limits in resorts, chain fitting bays and elsewhere;
• Before leaving the ski fields, be sure to clear any snow from the car roof, to avoid creating a road hazard to other vehicles. Failure to do so is an offence;
• Drive cautiously with gradual pressure on the accelerator to avoid wheel spin. The speed is not necessarily the slowest possible, sometimes a more optimum speed can help momentum through snow drifts or travelling up hills;
• Avoid unnecessary gear changes. Engage first or second gear on level ground (including automatics) before ascending or descending hills in snow or ice conditions;
• Brake gently. Front and rear wheels can lock easily with loss of steering and control;
• Keep well behind the vehicles in front;
• Avoid braking when cornering, brake before the corner while the wheels are straight;
• Keep well away from snow clearing machines. It is often necessary to reverse these machines, and snow clearing operators may not be able to see you in snowdrift or falling snow conditions. Also, the fountain of snow coming from the blowers may contain ice chunks and stones;

Tyres

One of the greatest problems for a motorist driving on an alpine road in winter is the unsuitability of their car in its standard form for driving in ice and snow conditions.

For most vehicles the same standard ‘summer’ tyres are used all year round.

Many imported car manufacturers recommend the use of ‘winter’ tyres on snowy and icy roads. For most of us though this is not practical. Therefore the following must be understood by all drivers when driving in the alps:

• With any tyre the greater the tread wear, the less safe the tyres are in winter alpine conditions. A worn tyre may be legal to use, but it has a greatly reduced safety margin;
• High speed (V and Z) rated, wide based, low profile summer tyres are not suitable. Fitting chains to some vehicles is not possible as tyre and rim combination does not give enough suspension clearance.

Chain Fitting

Fit chains at bays where you see the ‘Fit Chains Here’ sign. Always fit chains to driving wheels only. When required, four wheel drive vehicles should fit chains to front wheels.

Chain fitting bays are level and make fitting easier. If you don’t use the chain fitting bay you may find yourself in a lot of trouble. Chains are hard to fit on slopes, and you will obstruct other vehicles and snow clearing equipment. At all resorts you can be fined for not carrying and fitting chains as directed.

If it has not been necessary to fit chains when travelling to the resort, it is advisable to fit them upon arrival in preparation for the return trip. It is quite difficult to fit them to cars covered by snow.

Do not drive faster than 40kph.

Chain Fitting Checklist

• Chain Fitting Checklist
• Always test fit chains before a trip;
• Fit at fitting bays on level ground;
• If chains fall off or loosen when a vehicle is in motion, stop and check brake lines for damage before retensioning;
• Keep speed below 40 kph;
• Carry a torch, plastic garbage bag and gloves to make fitting easier;
• Use correct fitting chains;
• Tyres must be in good condition with minimal wear;
• The use of diamond pattern chains is recommended;
• After removing chains your cars handling may feel different. Take time to readjust your driving and take care!

Parking

• Park only where directed. If you do not you run the risk of another vehicle or snow clearing vehicle running into what looks to the driver like just another drift of snow;
• Do not apply the handbrake. Moisture can freeze the cables and brake linings;
• Leave the car in gear with the front wheels turned away from the slope;
• Always park as close to the bank as possible to leave room for two-way traffic;
• Do not use rocks to chock wheels as they may damage snow clearing machines;
• Remove wheel chocks from parking area when leaving;
• Even if chains were not required to enter the area it is advisable to fit them when parking;
• It is much easier than trying to fit them later for the return trip if weather conditions change or the vehicle is snowbound;
• Cover the radiator to help prevent freezing. Periodically clear snow from on and around the vehicle;
• Lift wipers from windscreen or place in a plastic bag if parking for an extended period so that wipers do not stick to the glass;
• Cover door locks with masking tape to stop locks freezing up;
• Don’t use wooden chocks, these tend to slip on icy surfaces.