News! With the Caravan on a winter holiday!
News: for you if you go on a winter holiday with a trailer or caravan, winter tires are not mandatory in principle, but they are urgently recommended for safety reasons. So if you go on a winter holiday with the caravan, it is certainly advisable to equip your caravan with the right tires!
News: the countries where you are officially obliged to use winter tires throughout the country are;
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Norway and Luxembourg. Driving in these countries without winter tires then you risk high fines. Driving without winter tires and you get involved in an accident? Then in some countries you will be held fully liable with all the consequences that entails. In the French Alps and Italy it is only compulsory in certain zones. The use of winter tires is also mandatory in Germany if there is ice, snow, sleet and black ice. That applies to all wheels, so also yours motorhome and caravan. If you hit the road with summer tires in winter conditions, you risk high fines. It is seen as an obstacle to traffic with dangerous consequences. In addition, your insurance may not cover any damage or liability incurred if you are involved in an accident without winter tires.
Rules, fines and obligations
Sometimes other traffic rules apply abroad than those we know in the Netherlands. News is, for example, that as a driver who wears glasses in Spain, you should always have spare glasses with you? And the amounts for fines are sometimes much higher than in the Netherlands. In Norway you will pay € 1012.89 (10,200 NOK) as a last resort if you press the accelerator too hard, resulting in a criminal case and disqualification from driving. And who in Italy with winter tires driving in the summer period, risks a fine of at least € 500 and a maximum of € 1,900. To avoid unnecessary fines or difficult situations, it is advisable to read up briefly before departure about the major differences in foreign traffic.
Driving in the mountains
As soon as you pass the Dutch border, the landscape quickly changes. Hills provide an adjustment in your driving style. Where in the Netherlands it is best to drive in fifth gear at 80 kilometers per hour, you do not do well in a hilly landscape. You have to tour in the mountains. When you step on the gas, the car should still be able to accelerate. If this is not possible, switch back. Otherwise, the engine will be overloaded and can overheat – especially if the car is at, at or over the maximum payload. For downhill riding, a low gear is the best choice. When you take your foot off the gas, the car should slow down on its own. Continuously applying the brakes is not necessary and this prevents damage to the braking system.
Mandatory tools Europe
News, unlike in the Netherlands, strict requirements apply in most (Southern) European countries for the safety equipment in the car. In addition to a warning triangle, a first-aid kit, safety vests for all occupants, spare lamps, an alcohol test and a fire extinguisher are sometimes required. These tools and other important items that you may need during the car holiday should be kept in an easily accessible place. That is not in that one bag somewhere in the back of the trunk under all those black, large bags. If you rent a car abroad with a registration number of the country itself, sometimes other obligations apply. Always check the applicable requirements with the rental company.
Check tire pressure
Check the tire pressure after fully loading the car: for better road holding and fuel economy, it should be increased when the car is heavily loaded. The slacker the tires, the more fuel is consumed during the journey. But also make sure that the tension is not too high, because that can cause a blowout and less grip on the road. And that's dangerous. The correct tire pressure differs per car. On a sticker in the door frame, sun or fuel valve there is (probably) a sticker that states the correct tire pressure for your car.
Spain!
Did you know that the rules in Spain for passing cyclists are very different than, for example, in the Netherlands. In Spain, cyclists enjoy extra protection and you may only pass cyclists if there is a minimum distance of one and a half meters between the motorist and the cyclist. It is generally strictly enforced. If you do not comply with this rule, you risk a hefty fine. Also different from the Netherlands, if you plan to transport your bicycle on the bicycle carrier of your car, it must be provided with an extra square sign of 50 centimeters with 4 red and white stripes.
Storing a caravan abroad?
Make sure you have a good and suitable caravan or motorhome insurance that also insures your caravan or motorhome abroad, even if the caravan stays longer than 180 days. For more information, visit the CaravanRepair.eu website. click here for our caravan insurance!
