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6 practical tips for driving on snow-covered roads
Conseils et astuces
6 practical tips for driving on snow-covered roads
Welcome to all those about to hit the slopes! Snow has fallen in Les Orres. But it's not just limited to the slopes. Here are 6 tips to keep in mind to ensure a safe journey, both for you and for the other road users on your vacation route!
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N°1
A well-equipped vehicle
From November 1 to March 31, special equipment is mandatory : winter tires (marked 3PMSF), chains or snow socks. This applies to all vehicles with four or more wheels: light vehicles, commercial vehicles, buses and heavy goods vehicles.
- WINTER TIRES :
As soon as the thermometer falls below 7°C, the rubber of a summer tire stiffens, losing all its effectiveness. Winter tires, on the other hand, have a much softer rubber compound. It can withstand low temperatures while retaining its properties on snow or ice. What's more, the tread of a winter tire has a large number of sipes, which promote good grip in wintry conditions.
It may also be tempting to equip your vehicle with just 2 winter tires. This is a mistake! It affects your car's stability and steering, either by diverting its trajectory, or by making it difficult to take bends. It's essential to fit 4 snow tires on all 4 wheels.
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- CHAINS:
Don't drive as far as you can before putting them on! This will avoid getting stuck in the middle of the road, inconveniencing other drivers or causing an accident. Chain up before the first climbs, ideally at chain-up areas. On the D40 road leading to Les Orres, there are 3 chaining areas where you can equip your vehicle at your leisure:
N° 2
Priority for cars going uphill
This rule of the Highway Code is essential, especially in the mountains. Don't obstruct vehicles climbing towards Les Orres: a car climbing needs momentum to succeed. If it stops to let you pass, it will skid and, deprived of its momentum, will not be able to set off again.
What to do in the event of slippage ? Reduce acceleration very gradually, with the wheels straight. If that's not enough, try starting off in second gear. Last resort: push the car!
Give way to snow removal and salting vehicles. It is forbidden to overtake them.
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N° 3
Never stop when climbing
On snow, your tires won't grip if they're stopped. Your vehicle will spin. To avoid this, maintain a constant speed to avoid blocking the road and hindering other drivers behind you. You can try accelerating gently and releasing the clutch gradually to prevent the front wheels from spinning
If you're going to stop uphill, activate the warnings to warn other drivers and, if you have chains, now's the time to use them. Otherwise, wait until no one is climbing before reversing to a less steep spot, while remaining extremely vigilant for vehicles behind you.
N° 4
Smooth, low-speed driving
- Drive at a reasonable speed, e.g. 30 km/h per second, to avoid wheel spin. This is very effective.
- Maintain a constant speed to avoid having to pick up speed and look for grip, which is impossible on snow. To do this, change gear as early as possible. This reduces the loss of grip caused by excessive engine torque.
- In general, avoid any sudden movements: everything must be done smoothly! Anticipation is the key.
N° 5
Never brake or brake very gradually
Downhill: use engine braking and brake very gradually to avoid locking the wheels. A simple trick: brake as if there were an egg on your pedal. You then make small pumping movements, releasing often, as the aim of the game is never to lock the wheels. If the wheels lock, you won't be able to steer your vehicle.
Uphill: in this case, braking is out of the question. Even with snow tires, you can still skid. If this happens, don't panic: is your car going off to the right? Counter-steer to the left by disengaging the clutch. And vice versa if your car is going left. And that's it! We can all do it, even if we're far from being a driver. It's important to avoid the reaction of braking to stop the vehicle. If you brake while your car is chasing, you'll be helping it to spin out.
N°6
Increase safety distances
On snow, braking distances are multiplied by 4. Keep your distance from the car behind you, whether you're going downhill or uphill. Leave at least twice the safety distance between you and the car in front.
WE WISH YOU A SAFE JOURNEY AND A PLEASANT STAY IN LES ORRES!
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- PREPARE YOUR JOURNEY
- Getting to Les Orres
- Check road conditions
- Consult road conditions in Hautes Alpes