moved cold weather; preparation in the morning; new section: Ice roads; minor changes
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Revision as of 10:48, 4 November 2013
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Anyone going to drive in northern (or southern enough) latitudes or in mountains should consider the possibility of snow, ice or freezing temperatures. On an icy road you cannot drive like on a dry one and enough snow to get you stuck can fall in little time. On the other hand icy and snowy conditions are normal in many countries and traffic goes on all year round nevertheless.
Anyone going to drive in northern (or southern enough) latitudes or in mountains should consider the possibility of snow, ice or freezing temperatures. On an icy road you cannot drive like on a dry one and enough snow to get you stuck can fall in little time. On the other hand icy and snowy conditions are normal in many countries and traffic goes on all year round nevertheless.
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See also general advice about [[cold weather]].
==Before leaving==
==Before leaving==
* Read the article on [[tips for road trips]]. Everything that applies to fair weather applies even more so to inclement weather.
* Read the article on [[tips for road trips]]. Everything that applies to fair weather applies even more so to inclement weather.
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* See also general advice about [[cold weather]].
* Consider taking an advanced drivers education course, especially if you have no or little experience driving on snow or never learned how to recover from a skid or similar conditions.
* Consider taking an advanced drivers education course, especially if you have no or little experience driving on snow or never learned how to recover from a skid or similar conditions.
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* GPS navigation units (Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, etc.) for road travel have become so inexpensive lately, anyone doing winter driving beyond their home area should use one. Be sure it contains maps of all relevant countries if you cross international borders, and don't wait until the last minute to figure out how your unit works. Ideally, you should have at least a month of experience in your home area before going on a long winter road trip. Practice using your GPS even driving to familiar, nearby locations. Be certain any hand-held unit is suitable for navigation while driving, with spoken turn-by-turn promps. A GPS device intended for just hiking, boating, and the like is NOT suitable while driving. Remember: One wrong turn onto a winter-abandoned road can be fatal.
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* GPS navigation units (Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, etc.) for road travel have become so inexpensive lately, anyone doing winter driving beyond their home area should use one. Be sure it contains maps of all relevant countries if you cross international borders, and don't wait until the last minute to figure out how your unit works. Ideally, you should have at least a month of experience in your home area before going on a long winter road trip. Practice using your GPS even driving to familiar, nearby locations. Be certain any hand-held unit is suitable for navigation while driving, with spoken turn-by-turn promps. Be aware that the device may act weirdly in special situations (such as a road "ending" at a ferry quay). A GPS device intended for just hiking, boating, and the like is NOT suitable while driving. Remember: One wrong turn onto a winter-abandoned road can be fatal.
===Bring===
===Bring===
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* Portable radio with AM band and batteries, even if your vehicle has one.
* Portable radio with AM band and batteries, even if your vehicle has one.
* Flashlight (torch) with batteries.
* Flashlight (torch) with batteries.
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* Ice scraper with a brush. De-icing spray. Extra scraper.
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* Ice scraper with a brush (the latter especially for cold powder snow). De-icing spray. Extra scraper.
* Extra bottle of windscreen washer fluid and large container of top up water, particularly when travelling on salted roads.
* Extra bottle of windscreen washer fluid and large container of top up water, particularly when travelling on salted roads.
* A lightweight snow shovel (or any shovel, if you can't buy a snow shovel locally).
* A lightweight snow shovel (or any shovel, if you can't buy a snow shovel locally).
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* Sun glasses – on a sunny, winter day, the glare on the road from snow (or even water) can be quite bad.
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* Sun glasses – on a sunny winter day, the glare on the road from snow (or even water) can be quite bad.
* Don't forget your cell phone and its in-vehicle charger. However, service may not be available in rural areas. If you're planning to upgrade or replace your cell phone, look for a model that includes GPS (many do). Except for some large-screen models (like the i-phone), these are ''not'' useful for navigation at all; only for locating someone. Keeping and extra (old) mobile in the car with charge is always a good idea no matter the weather.
* Don't forget your cell phone and its in-vehicle charger. However, service may not be available in rural areas. If you're planning to upgrade or replace your cell phone, look for a model that includes GPS (many do). Except for some large-screen models (like the i-phone), these are ''not'' useful for navigation at all; only for locating someone. Keeping and extra (old) mobile in the car with charge is always a good idea no matter the weather.
* Spare vehicle key to carry on your person.
* Spare vehicle key to carry on your person.
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===Choosing the right vehicle===
===Choosing the right vehicle===
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If your own car is not equipped for winter conditions, it may be cheaper and easier to rent a car at the destination. Then you are able to choose and hopefully get one suitable for the local conditions. You might also have more than one car to choose from at home.
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If your own car is not equipped for winter conditions, it may be cheaper and easier to rent a car at the destination. Then you are able to choose and hopefully get one suitable and already equipped for the local conditions. You might also have more than one car to choose from at home.
* A four-wheel-drive vehicle is better able to climb slippery hills than a two wheel drive, and four wheel drive is very useful getting out off snow drifts. However, a 4x4 does not allow higher speed around corners and braking distance is the same. Generally two-wheel-drive cars are used also in the winter, at least on maintained roads.
* A four-wheel-drive vehicle is better able to climb slippery hills than a two wheel drive, and four wheel drive is very useful getting out off snow drifts. However, a 4x4 does not allow higher speed around corners and braking distance is the same. Generally two-wheel-drive cars are used also in the winter, at least on maintained roads.
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=== Tires ===
=== Tires ===
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In Finland, Norway and Sweden winter tires are mandatory in winter and possibly in winterly conditions outside the set dates. They do not have to be studded, though. "All-weather" tires may be legally enough, but unstudded "nordic" winter tires are much better. The tread depth must be at least 6/32" or 5 mm (or whatever local law requires), which is several times deeper than for regular tires wearing out, but not much in bad conditions.
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In Finland, Norway and Sweden winter tires are mandatory in winter and possibly in winterly conditions outside the set dates. They do not have to be studded, though. "All-weather" tires may be enough legally, but unstudded "nordic" winter tires are much better. The tread depth must be at least 6/32" or 5 mm (or whatever local law requires), which is several times deeper than for regular tires wearing out, but not much in bad conditions.
In Germany, if you have an accident in the winter and do not have winter tyres on the car, it is your fault and the insurance company will not cover damages. Note this applies to cars you hire as well as your own.
In Germany, if you have an accident in the winter and do not have winter tyres on the car, it is your fault and the insurance company will not cover damages. Note this applies to cars you hire as well as your own.
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; Other advice
; Other advice
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* You need time in the morning to clean the car from snow and ice and have the cabin heated to avoid or clear misting on the windshield. Start the engine somewhat before you are ready to go.
* You cannot drive at highway/freeway speeds with chains on.
* You cannot drive at highway/freeway speeds with chains on.
* Keep your fuel tank at least half full at all times.
* Keep your fuel tank at least half full at all times.
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* During snowfall at low temperatures, snowflakes may freeze onto heated car windows (notably the windshield). One solution to this problem is to switch off or reduce inside heating in the car, while still running the ventilation fan at high speed.
* During snowfall at low temperatures, snowflakes may freeze onto heated car windows (notably the windshield). One solution to this problem is to switch off or reduce inside heating in the car, while still running the ventilation fan at high speed.
* Although driving slower than usual is often advised, watch the locals and keep a keen attitude. Deliberately driving 10–20 km/h slower than traffic annoys other drivers and invites risky overtakes.
* Although driving slower than usual is often advised, watch the locals and keep a keen attitude. Deliberately driving 10–20 km/h slower than traffic annoys other drivers and invites risky overtakes.
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=== Ice roads ===
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In some regions there are roads made over the ice of lakes and rivers, even the sea, in the winter. Some provide road access to places otherwise inaccessible by car, some replace ferry connections. Locals may drive on the ice just for fun.
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Official ice roads are usually well maintained and secure at least in good weather, but do respect speed and weight restrictions. Speeding will cause cracks in the ice. Stopping on the ice is often a bad idea, as the weight of the car causes a local depression. In the worst case you will have water flow in and too steep a grade to easily get out. Check instructions for using the roads, there may even be peculiarities such as self service ferries over shipping lanes.
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For unofficial ice roads, always get local advice. There will probably not be any obvious warning signs.
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Driving on the ice where there is no road at all requires judgement and knowledge of local conditions. Having a ship open a lane between you and the mainland is no fun (and the wind or raise in water level can cause similar situations). Have a good big scale map and a compass. Snowfall or snowdrift can cause you to see nothing but snow.
==In case of emergency==
==In case of emergency==