Snow will continue to cause slippery roads in the coming days. Rijkswaterstaat recommends that you only go on the road if you really have no other choice. If you do take the car in the coming days, what should you take into account and how do you get to your destination safely?
Before you get in, you must clear your car completely of snow, which is mandatory. According to ANWB car expert Jos van der Drift, this means clearing snow from the windows, mirrors, lights and your license plate. Your hood and roof should also be wiped clean before you leave. “What you see now is that people drive out of the street with a lot of snow on the hood and roof and then lose it along the way. That is just very annoying and dangerous for fellow road users,” says Van der Drift.
If you do not do this, since January 1, there has been a fine of 500 euros. In addition, there are various fines for other violations. If your view through your windshield and front side windows is limited, you will be fined 320 euros. Add to that your mirrors and any camera system, and the whole combination will cost you 500 euros.
If your lights are 25 percent or more covered by snow, it will cost you 130 euros. If your license plate is illegible, you pay 190 euros for it. “If you add everything up, it becomes an expensive joke,” Van der Drift warns.
People usually forget how much work it actually is to clear snow from the car. “Then they often think, ‘well, I’m just going to drive’. But then you end up saddling others with problems,” Van der Drift outlines.
Garage owner Emil Stolk, from AutoCrew Stolk in Dieverbrug, advises people with a newer car to check the headlights extra carefully: “New cars have LED lights, there is still a problem. Compared to the headlights of older cars, the LED lights do not emit heat. This can cause a layer of ice to form when snow falls on it and it freezes. The layer of ice on the headlight makes it more difficult for the light to pass through. This makes you as a driver less visible. on the road and you also have less visibility,” he says.
If you have LED lights in your car, check whether there is a layer of ice on the headlights before you drive. And while you’re at it, check your taillight and brake light as well.
Making your car winter-proof sounds like a lot of work, but Stolk advises people to at least put a set of good tires on the car: “Winter tires are better than all-seasons. Winter tires are always better with snow,” says Stolk.
Just like good tires, your brakes should also work well. Most cars today have ABS (anti-lock braking) and other systems. “They provide support while driving. But the driver is always responsible,” says Stolk. The ABS ensures that your wheels do not lock, so that your car remains steerable. This way you can steer quietly to a free spot.
Once your car is free of snow all around, you can start driving (if you really have to). Once behind the wheel, there are a few things that you should take into account, according to Van der Drift: “That is of course an open door, but keep about two to three times more distance than normal, drive less fast than normal and do not make abrupt movements at the wheel,” is his advice.
It is also good to know that there is a big difference in how slippery the snow is. Fresh snow is less slippery than snow that has been on the road for a few days and has been flattened. Flattened, slippery snow also often reflects light when it shines on it. “That is an indication that it is slippery, you have less grip. This is different with fresh snow (heaps). Then a car tire has a greater chance of getting grip due to its profile.” According to Van der Drift, road users have a better chance of traction if they drive at an appropriate speed.
We don’t often drive in the snow in the Netherlands. “These are situations that you do not easily encounter,” says car expert Van der Drift. According to him, you should always try to prevent the car from skidding, but sometimes it does happen. “It sounds contradictory, but try to stay calm and let off the gas, because when you let off the gas you will notice that the car will start to regain traction on its own.”
When the car has regained grip, you can make some steering movements again. These must be subtle steering movements. Van der Drift also recommends looking ahead to where there is free space and steering there. If you get into a situation where the car is really sliding, you have to brake fully.
If you have to get on the highway and are wondering how fast you can drive under the current circumstances, then according to Van der Drift you should not push the limits. What is responsible is mainly to adapt to other road users and, above all, to keep driving in the right lane. That is often also the cleanest lane. “Just drive quietly with the pack, with enough distance. That is the most sensible speed,” he says.
Stolk shares this opinion. Grip, distance and speed are therefore the most important when you are in the car in this weather. “If you approach a bend on a slippery road surface, you must release the accelerator before steering into the bend. If you do start to skid, you must gently adjust to the side you want to go. The first reaction of many people is to brake hard, so you should not do that,” according to Stolk.
According to Van der Drift, fear is a good advisor: “If you sit behind the wheel with weak knees, you should ask yourself whether it is a good idea to drive,” he believes. You must always remain calm behind the wheel and keep looking ahead. “If you are afraid to drive in these conditions, do yourself a favor and stay at home,” said Van der Drift.