Drive safely to your ski holiday

In winter, use antifreeze in the windshield washer fluid and in the coolant. Winter tires should have a tread depth of at least 4 mm. To check the road conditions, it is a good idea to test your brakes after driving a short distance. Of course, check your rear-view mirror first. Keeping a sufficient distance from the vehicle ahead is important. The road is often especially slippery near intersections.

There are tips for how to drive, too: When driving to a ski resort, try to avoid ruts. Packed tracks can quickly turn to ice, where tires cannot grip. When driving downhill, engine braking is recommended. For difficult uphill stretches, there is a trick for front-wheel-drive vehicles. Turning the rear of the car toward the slope shifts more weight onto the drive axle. It is then easier to drive uphill in reverse.

Extra care is needed when temperatures are around 0°C. Ice is then more dangerous than at lower temperatures. Take care when driving over bridges, through dips in the road, and in wooded areas, too, as these places can be wet.

A driving school safety course can certainly be useful before setting off on a ski holiday. It teaches you about your own limits and how a vehicle reacts in extreme situations. With good preparation, nothing stands in the way of setting off on your ski holiday.