Un nouvel épisode de neige et de pluies verglaçantes est attendu dès ce soir dans le quart nord-est du pays, puis dans tout le nord de la France avec 34 départements en vigilance orange mercredi, dont l’intégralité de l’Île-de- France.
If the first advice is to avoid driving in these conditions, especially in the case of ice, what precautions should you adopt if you cannot postpone your trips?
Drive slowly
The first tip is to slow down and drive at a walking pace. “You have to drive slowly,” summarizes Yves Carra on BFMTV, spokesperson for Mobilité Club France.
The idea is above all to avoid all sudden movements (on the pedals and the steering wheel) to avoid skidding and to maintain the poor grip on a slippery road.
Avoid slopes, merge onto main roads.
Another tip: pay attention to your route.
“Avoid large drops in altitude. If on your usual route you have a large descent or a large climb, detour because that is where there will be problems,” advises Yves Carra.
It is also best to favor main roads, the busiest ones, which will often be salted as a preventive measure. “Join them as a priority because they will be the first to be authorized,” continues Yves Carra.
In addition, Bison Futé offers an online service called “Winter Roads” that lists real-time traffic conditions on the country’s main roads.
Have socks in the trunk.
What about winter tires? The latter continue to be the safest for driving on the road in winter. Below 7°C, their rubber remains softer and therefore offers more grip than summer tires. All-season tires can also be an alternative, although they are less effective on snow.
With the Mountain Law, winter tires are mandatory between November 1 and March 31 in 34 departments (mainly in the mountains) without their absence being penalized. The question of its cost remains.
According to the specialist AlloPneus, a set of winter tires costs between 120 and 170 euros for a sedan and between 180 and 220 euros for an SUV, or between 240 and 440 euros to equip the four wheels of a vehicle. Therefore, their cost is not negligible, although these tires can be kept for several years.
The question of purchase also arises in more temperate regions, for example in Normandy or Île-de-France, although affected by snow this week. All-season tires may be more suitable in this case.
However, an alternative may be interesting in these uncertain times: socks.
“It costs 50 euros, you put them in the trunk, it will really get you out of a bad situation if your wheels spin, it will allow you to start and get back on the road,” says Yves Carra.
But be careful: socks are quickly damaged by asphalt.
Source: BFM TV
