After the chaos in the French Alps this weekend caused by sudden, heavy snowfalls and bad road management, snow chains and how to fit them are a rather hot subject. Although local authorities were aware of the snow forecast, the necessary measures needed to deal with the large quantities of snow were apparently not put in place correctly. On top of this, the fact that last weekend was one of the busiest of the ski season, meant that roads were quickly blocked with drivers struggling with snow chains in dangerous conditions. Below are some tips and advice about how to avoid this kind of situation.
One problem that was highlighted in last weekend’s fiasco on the French mountain roads was the number of drivers who simply stopped their car in the middle of the road to fit their snow chains. No need to explain that this causes traffic jams and maybe even accidents as other drivers are obliged to brake suddenly. Always try to pull over in a layby, petrol station or a roadside car park to avoid causing problems for other drivers.
This may sound stupid, but some strong advice after a very complicated experience with badly fitting snow chains – never borrow someone else’s snow chains unless they are designed to fit exactly the tyres of your car! You will find all the necessary details on the packaging and don't be afraid to ask for advice in the shop where you buy your snow chains. Using snow chains that are too large or too small could result in damage to your car and even lead to an accident.
Fitting snow chains always seems like a complicated task when you take the tangled chains out of the box and start trying to understand the printed instructions for the first time. Once you've fitted snow chains on your car once however, you’ll probably laugh at anyone who says how hard it is. After having parked your car in a suitable spot, take everything out of the packaging and untangle your snow chains so that they are hang free. NOTE: for front-wheel-drive cars, fit snow chains on the front tres, for rear-wheel-drive cars, fit snow chains on the rear wheels! Now take a look at this useful video which shows how simple fitting your snow chains can be.
While driving in the Alps in snowy conditions on the way to your ski resort, you may notice many cars without snow chains and wonder how they manage to drive safely on snow covered roads. Residents living in mountainous areas in Europe are often obliged by law to fit snow tyres to their cars during the winter months and they therefore don't need snow chains too. These tyres are specially designed to grip on snow and ice and prevent many accidents each year. Maybe worth investing if you live in cold parts! And good luck fitting your snow chains if you're off skiing in the Alps soon.
After the chaos in the French Alps this weekend caused by sudden, heavy snowfalls and bad road management, snow chains and how to fit them are a rather hot subject. Although local authorities were aware of the snow forecast, the necessary measures needed to deal with the large quantities of snow were apparently not put in place correctly. On top of this, the fact that last weekend was one of the busiest of the ski season, meant that roads were quickly blocked with drivers struggling with snow chains in dangerous conditions. Below are some tips and advice about how to avoid this kind of situation.
One problem that was highlighted in last weekend’s fiasco on the French mountain roads was the number of drivers who simply stopped their car in the middle of the road to fit their snow chains. No need to explain that this causes traffic jams and maybe even accidents as other drivers are obliged to brake suddenly. Always try to pull over in a layby, petrol station or a roadside car park to avoid causing problems for other drivers.
This may sound stupid, but some strong advice after a very complicated experience with badly fitting snow chains – never borrow someone else’s snow chains unless they are designed to fit exactly the tyres of your car! You will find all the necessary details on the packaging and don't be afraid to ask for advice in the shop where you buy your snow chains. Using snow chains that are too large or too small could result in damage to your car and even lead to an accident.
Fitting snow chains always seems like a complicated task when you take the tangled chains out of the box and start trying to understand the printed instructions for the first time. Once you've fitted snow chains on your car once however, you’ll probably laugh at anyone who says how hard it is. After having parked your car in a suitable spot, take everything out of the packaging and untangle your snow chains so that they are hang free. NOTE: for front-wheel-drive cars, fit snow chains on the front tres, for rear-wheel-drive cars, fit snow chains on the rear wheels! Now take a look at this useful video which shows how simple fitting your snow chains can be.
While driving in the Alps in snowy conditions on the way to your ski resort, you may notice many cars without snow chains and wonder how they manage to drive safely on snow covered roads. Residents living in mountainous areas in Europe are often obliged by law to fit snow tyres to their cars during the winter months and they therefore don't need snow chains too. These tyres are specially designed to grip on snow and ice and prevent many accidents each year. Maybe worth investing if you live in cold parts! And good luck fitting your snow chains if you're off skiing in the Alps soon.
