DRIVING IN ALPINE AREAS cont . . .
Fuel
Before you drive up the mountain, ensure that your fuel tank is topped up as you may experience lengthy delays in bad weather when you need to keep your motor running.

It you drive a diesel powered vehicle, fill your fuel tank with alpine mix diesel from a service station close to the snow fields to avoid freezing of fuel.
Dual fuel vehicles (LPG/petrol) should switch to petrol before entering alpine areas.

Braking & Skidding
It is better to control your car by steering rather than braking. Hitting the bank or being stuck in a snow drift is better than going over the edge! If you go into a skid, turn the front wheels in the direction of the skid and release your brake. After the skid ceases, gently apply your brakes.		   Poor Visibility
If minimum visibility (white-out) conditions occur and the road ahead and snow poles are not visible, bring the vehicle to a stop, leave the motor running and switch on your hazard lights.

Travel in daylight hours whenever possible.
It is difficult to judge distances in snow at night.

In poor visibility conditions, drive with your headlights on low beam. Use front and rear demisters, with air-conditioning on, to ensure windscreens are clear at all times.

more
 

Alcohol & Drugs are fuel for disaster in the snow, they impair your judgement and your ability. Your reaction times are significantly reduced and increase the risk of injury. The whole alpine experience begins when you leave home and doesn’t finish until you return. Avoid alcohol consumption and the use of illegal substances, because they increase your risk of hypothermia.

Alcohol & Drugs impair judgement, slow response time and reduce your ability to respond to an emergency.