With an unusually cold winter on the way, you may be thinking of a trip up the mountains for some fun in the snow. Before you dust off those skis and drive up the mountain though, there are a few things you should do to prepare.
Prepare your car
It's a good idea to have your car serviced before heading to the snow. The mechanic should check your tyres, brakes, battery, engine and windscreen. The mechanic may drain and replace the coolant in your car’s engine with a stronger mix of anti-freeze, if required.
Four-wheel drive vehicles are best suited for driving in snow and ice conditions.
Four radiator needs effective antifreeze. Diesel vehicles will need winter diesel - this is a diesel fuel enhanced to prevent it from gelling in cold weather conditions.
There are also some things that you should have in your car in case the unexpected happens. An emergency kit can come in handy for a multitude of situations and at the very least should include:
- a blanket and groundsheet
- a shovel
- a plastic scraper (for scraping ice off the windscreen)
- bottles of water
- and a first aid kit.
You will also need to have a set of snow chains in your car and be able to put them on your tyres when directed.
Remember to also make sure the driver and all passengers are well equipped for an unexpected breakdown in cold weather conditions with warm clothing and food.
Tips for using snow chains
Do you need snow chains to drive to the snow?
When driving in the Snowy Mountains National Park and other snow affected areas, snow chains must be carried. With the exception of 4WD vehicles, authorities require snow chains to be fitted when conditions demand.
Although 4WD’s are exempt from using snow chains, the RMS (Roads and Maritime Services) recommends that 4WD owners (including sport utility vehicles, off-road vehicles, and all wheel drive vehicles – except those with vehicles equipped with winter tyres), carry chains and install them when directed.
When do snow chains have to be used?
National Park regulations require all vehicles (except four wheel drive vehicles) in the National Park to carry chains between the June and October long weekends when driving through designated ‘snow and ice’ risk sections.
In the Alpine regions, possible snow and ice risk sections are identified with yellow lane line marking and black and yellow signposting. There are also designated snow chain fitting bays. These indicate when you can put chains on your tyres. You may also be directed by rangers, highway patrol or other authorised people to put chains on before proceeding further.
How do you put them on?
You only have to fit chains to two driving wheels: front wheel drive vehicles, fit to front wheels; rear wheel drive vehicles, fit to rear wheels; and four wheel drive vehicles if using chains, fit to front wheels. For all wheel drive vehicles refer to the owner’s manual.
When fitting chains, pull off to the left of the road as far as possible and use a chain fitting bay if possible. Do not use a jack to lift a vehicle to put on snow chains as in icy conditions, your car might slide off the jack. Make sure the inner and outer hooks are securely fastened. Tie the loose ends of the chains down to prevent damage to mudguards. After you have driven the first 50 to 100 metres, stop and check that your snow chains are still tight.
Tips for driving in the snow
Make sure your vision is clear through the windscreen
Good vision from the car is paramount, particularly in areas where the weather can change rapidly and affect your vision. When you're in colder locations you'll almost definitely have to defog your windscreens. Before setting out, check the air conditioning system (AC) is working properly.
Cool air flow to the face helps keep you alert when travelling in a warm car. However, do not use the AC to extend your driving times beyond sensible rest periods. It's a good idea to also check your windscreen wipers and replace them if needed.
Drive slowly and use headlights
Make sure you're driving to the condition and use caution when there is fog, ice or snow. Use gears instead of brakes to slow down and watch for icy patches on shady parts of the road, through cuttings, on bridges and on winding stretches where ice may have formed over a thin layer of snow.
Take care to drive smoothly, with no sudden stops and starts or sudden turns as you could end up in a spin. For your safety, keep double the normal distance between you and the car in front.
Can NRMA Roadside Assistance help if you get stuck?
Yes, NRMA Roadside Assistance can assist you regardless of where you are in Australia. We will attempt to salvage your vehicle from the situation without calling for a tow truck, provided your vehicles Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is within the terms of your subscription package. If you are in a location inaccessible to normal two-wheel drive vehicles or require towing equipment, we can still help; however a commercial call-out fee will be charged.
Don't try to tow other cars stuck on snowy/icy roads
Under no circumstances should you attempt this or let anyone do this for you. It's extremely risky and you could end up in a worse situation than where you started. If the vehicle stuck is covered by NRMA Roadside Assistance, we can provide towing assistance.
If the vehicle in question is not covered, (and the vehicles owner is not a member) a towing service can still be organised. However, a commercial call out fee will be charged by the local towing company for the service.
For more information, check out NSW Government's Driving in Snow and Ice Conditions.
