Winter time, it also concerns the automotive and pedestrians. We must equip!
Winter time, it’s not good news for motorists in safety vest. The roads are slippery, the densest fog, night hours more numerous. In cities like on the roads, it is the pedestrian who first suffer the consequences of winter time.
Last year in November, 62 pedestrians were killed including 46 at night, so that in the spring there were 10 killed overnight
The precautions are simple: when you are walking, check several times before crossing and do it in crosswalks on the road, walk on the side facing the headlights, that is to say, left the road, preferably with light colors.
Friendly, retro-reflective vest is mandatory, and it should be for skates, scooters and skateboards are often on the road with no lighting.
For motorists, check and clean your headlights, fill your washer fluid with antifreeze and change the brushes every year. Also check if your fan is enough to defog your windscreen.
In winter the main thing is to see and be seen
As for the grip on the road, we know that, like chewing gum, the colder it is, the gum is less elastic and adherent. Because the rubber of winter tire does not harden when it is cold, its cobblestones adhere well to the snow and the water drains better when it rains. Besides winter tires are mandatory in many countries of Europe, from Scandinavia to northern Italy via Germany, Switzerland and the Balkans. Not in France, but the French motorists who travel to the countries mentioned must equip. Besides, more and more motorists in safety clothing are aware that winter tires are an effective solution, 72% according to a survey by Alones, the French leader in Internet sales. This is 10% more than last year. And they are 66% to consider that, in one way or another; the equipment should be made compulsory. Moreover, when asked, 35% said they will fit. But it is often wishful thinking since the sale of winter tires is between 13 and 17% of the market.
What hinders buyers? The price first, the practical constraints such as the storage of summer tires
Three arguments that deny the reality today because merchants like Euro master can store your tires after having changed, and that a site like Alone proposes to come and change tires, four on your car without you were moving. This is also the case of 123 tires.
But the emergence of tires any time will perhaps dispel prejudices. Michelin released their Cross climate, a tire that combines the benefits of winter tires, the grip, comfort and the holding of the summer tire.
And all other brands have their tires 4 seasons. Still, in mountain regions, a winter tire will be more and more effective in snow and ice. But if you equip yourself, do not expect the first snowflakes.