We hear our friends in the UK are experiencing a taste of the weather we have over here in the French Alps! There is a definite skill to driving in these conditions so we thought we would spill the beans and give you some handy tips and hints.
Firstly, if you are looking out of the window at a decent covering of snow and you don’t have snow tyres or chains to deal with the conditions we would strongly advise you not to drive your car. However, if you are heading out on a tough journey, take a blanket and some snacks with you… just in case!
Tyres and Chains
It’s really important to make sure you have good tread on your tyres and if they are not winter tyres you may need to put chains on a little sooner. In France it is mandatory to carry chains and use them when directed by the authorities. In some cases if you do not have them they will stop you from driving any further. It is always best to be prepared when you first hear that the snow might come or the temperature may drop so using things like concentrated screen wash is a must, and making sure you have some deicer and ice scraper handy.
Don’t forget your snow chains! – Getaway Vans
Don’t be tempted to throw hot water over your windscreen for a quick deice! Not only could the quick change in temperature crack your windscreen but it will also freeze straight away if the temperature is right, leaving you back to square one!
Driving tips
Low gears and momentum are key! Don’t brake sharply or stop if you can help it and ensure that you only feather the brakes and allow plenty of stopping distance when you do need to stop. Engine braking when heading down hill is really important and you can do this by using the lowest gear possible. This might sound noisy but it means that your car will be controlled down the hill and the need for braking is reduced. When you do need to brake just make sure you are prepared and feather the brakes gently.
Finally, when you park up, make sure you pull your windscreen wipers away from your windscreen and turn them off. If you don’t do this, they can freeze to your windscreen and if they are still switched on, the motor can burn out trying to move the wipers if they are frozen to your windscreen!
The roads are pretty snowy in Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz! Drive safe!
Most of all stay safe and leave plenty of time to get where you need to go! Don’t forget if you are heading from Geneva to Morzine, Avoriaz or Les Gets, take the stress of driving away and just book with us instead!!