Christmas trips are our tradition. Unfortunately, the national tradition is also the lack of common sense behind the wheel, the best example of which are police statistics. Poland has the highest European road death rate. In 2016-2019, the largest number of fatal accidents on the Old Continent per billion kilometres traveled on domestic routes. Many of these tragic events take place in the fall and winter season, as well as during holidays, which are characterized by heavy traffic on the roads.
– Poles like to travel. It is no different during the holiday season. Unfortunately, quickly falling dusk, unfavourable weather and low temperatures make driving difficult. In order to reach your destination safely, the skills and good technical condition of the vehicle are not enough. At this time of the year, decent tyres with winter approval are also of key importance for road safety – thinks Piotr Sarnecki, General Director of the Polish Tyre Industry Association (PTIA).
Replace on time
In order to avoid an accident on the road in winter, there are a few basic things to remember. Among them are, among others replacement of tyres for winter ones. A significant percentage of drivers have a problem with judging when a seasonal change should take place. Many people are convinced that this is the moment of the first snowfall and icing. And that's a big mistake! We change tyres when the temperatures drop below 7 degrees Celsius in the morning.
– When braking on a dry road, at a temperature of 10 ° C, a summer tyre has a slight advantage of 20-30 cm shorter braking distance (over so-called winter tyres). However, in the evening the temperature can drop and summer tyres become dangerous. The latest PZPO test shows that already at a temperature of 6°C on a wet surface, without snow, a passenger car with summer tyres will brake 6 meters further from 85 km / h than on winter tyres. Therefore, when replacing summer tyres with winter or all-season tyres, we do not wait for the first snow – explains Piotr Sarnecki.
The rubber must not crack
However, before we put winter tyres on rims and then on the car, it is worth checking their condition. According to the regulations in force, the tread depth in Poland should not be less than the minimum wear indicator of the tyre specified by its manufacturer. If it is not there, then to a depth of 1.6 mm. This is a lower bound that cannot be exceeded. In addition, check the tyres for visible cracks. If they do appear, there is nothing else but to buy a new set. The same is with the bulges. In many cases, they are the result of hitting an obstacle (e.g. a hole in the road, a manhole), and the consequence may be a breakage while driving.
The spare wheel must not be forgotten either. Although it is rarely used, it also needs to be checked that it is in good condition. You never know when it will come in handy.
Check the pressure
Another point on the so-called The "check list" is the tyre pressure. Today, most new cars have tyre pressure sensors. This, however, does not exempt users from checking regularly that the inflation condition is correct. It should be clearly emphasized that vehicle manufacturers strictly define what these parameters should be. They can be found, for example, on the side pillar ("B" pillar). By following the recommendations, we will be able to enjoy the proper driving of our vehicle. You should also remember that tyre pressure is checked cold, preferably once a month and each time before each further journey. We also check the aforementioned spare wheels – whether they are inflated to the correct pressure level.
Pack wisely
Packing is also important during trips. Accidental distribution of luggage can have dire consequences. At the moment of an accident, an unsecured suitcase or even a mobile phone acquires kinetic Energy comparable to an impact by a concrete pole. Example? A 9 kg package, when suddenly braking from a speed of 90 km / h, flies through the car with an impact force of up to 450 kg! It is worth securing all loose items in advance and also take care of pets.
Check the liquids
Before going on a winter trip, it is worth checking the level of operating liquids, e.g. cooling and brake fluids, engine oil and washer fluid. You also need to check the lighting condition – whether it is on properly and whether any light bulbs are burned out.
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Source: Polish Tyre Industry Association