DGT points snowfall warning for drivers: What to know earlier than heading out for Christmas

SNOWFALL has arrived in Spain, with many areas of the nation blanketed in snow and cities gearing up for a chilly, white Christmas. Nonetheless, with the arrival of the magical, powdery snow comes many rainstorms affecting a lot of the nation, and the polar chilly entrance threatens to show the roads into hotspots for ice and low visibility circumstances. For that reason, the Spanish Directorate Common of Visitors, or DGT, has launched a warning to drivers: take precautions, verify forecasts, and plan your journeys with a purpose to keep away from accidents on the icy roads.

Christmas highway journeys may flip harmful: Plan your journey earlier than setting out

With many residents in Spain planning highway journeys for the vacations, it’s crucial that drivers take a number of precautions earlier than taking to the roads. The DGT “recommends that drivers plan their journey and, earlier than setting out, seek the advice of the climate forecast and discover out in regards to the situation of the roads, because the snow may make driving troublesome in a number of areas.” 

The DGT warned that the next main roads in Spain could also be affected by snowfall forecasts:

• A-66/AP-66 (Asturias and Leon)
• A-67 (Palencia-Cantabria)
• A-6/AP-6 (Madrid-Leon)
• AP-51 (Avila)
• AP-61 (Segovia)
• A-1 (Madrid-Burgos)
• A-2 (Madrid-Soria)
• A-52 (Benavente-Ourense)
• A-23 (Huesca-Jaca)

Tips on how to keep away from accidents on the icy roads

Drivers may also take a number of measures to ensure they continue to be as protected as doable on the possibly harmful winter roads.

• Maintain the left-hand lane clear to permit highway upkeep and snowplough autos to go.
• Take note of the knowledge displayed on variable message indicators and to the directions given by officers of the Visitors Division of the Guardia Civil.
• Train excessive warning when travelling by means of areas and roads affected by this forecast, and guarantee you’ve got the suitable tools to journey safely, like snow chains or winter tyres.
• Concentrate on the completely different snow color codes and the driving circumstances related to them.
• Drive slowly and easily on affected roads or should you discover snowfall.

The DGT additionally offers real-time data for drivers by means of varied channels, together with information bulletins on radio stations, on X (@DGTes and @informacionDGT), on its official web site and thru the telephone by dialing 011.

The DGT’s snowfall color code system: Important to know earlier than travelling

Know the snowfall color codes earlier than setting out on the roads this Christmas:

• Inexperienced: Snowfall has begun to settle. 
• Yellow: The highway is partly coated in snow. Drivers have a velocity restrict of 100 kilometres per hour on essential roads, and 80 kilometres per hour on standard (smaller) roads.
• Purple: The highway is totally coated in snow. Buses and vans are prohibited from driving on the roads and automobiles have a velocity restrict of 30 kilometres per hour.
• Black: Driving is totally prohibited within the space.

What to do in case your automotive all of the sudden begins to slip on ice

The DGT has additionally launched directions for what to do if a driver encounters ice on the roads. These directions will be life-saving within the terrifying scenario of encountering ice and quickly shedding management of the automotive:

1. If the automotive begins to slip on ice, instantly take your foot off the gasoline.
2. Don’t brake till the automotive has recuperated traction on the highway.
3. Don’t attempt to all of the sudden straighten out the wheel. The driving force might utterly lose management of the automotive. As an alternative, steer gently and keep away from sudden actions of the steering wheel.
4. As soon as the automotive has regained traction with the highway, straighten the wheel and gently transfer the automotive again into place, avoiding sudden actions.

Aside from all the ideas above, it will be a good suggestion to arrange an emergency package within the car as effectively, with important gadgets together with flashlights, batteries, gloves, blankets, an ice scraper, and a small first assist package. The DGT additionally reminds drivers of the significance of buying a brand new V16 beacon that complies with requirements, which can be utilized to sign for assist in case an accident occurs on the highway.

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