Before leaving home

Add Anti-Freeze

Add anti-freeze to your engine radiator. You’ll need to match the amount of anti-freeze to the capacity of the coolant system. If this isn’t done and the coolant freezes, the engine block and radiator may crack, leaving you stranded with an expensive repair bill. Most modern cars use coolant with wide temperature capabilities, but you’ll need to check with your service provider if special coolant is needed. You should also add anti-freeze to your windscreen washing fluid to prevent it freezing on the windscreen when driving.

Use alpine diesel fuel

Diesel ‘waxes’ at low temperatures, which blocks the fuel system and immobilises the vehicle. If you drive a diesel vehicle, ensure you use fuel formulated for use in cold conditions, such as alpine diesel. This is only usually available close to the snow fields, so plan your journey to arrive with plenty of room in your fuel tank for this fuel.

Allow enough time for your trip

Ensure you allow enough time for the trip. Weather can change quickly in alpine areas, with a corresponding effect on the roads and travel speed. Also, if authorities declare a ‘snow chain day’, there can be delays in accessing snow chain bays to fit and remove chains, and the process itself can take a considerable amount of time.

Avoid travel fatigue

Most people have to travel a considerable distance to get to the snow fields. Ensure you have regular breaks to ‘stop, revive and survive’. Even allowing for delays and distance to travel, driving to and from the snow fields can be more tiring than normal driving given the difficult conditions you may encounter – including bad weather, darkness and narrow, winding roads. You are also more likely to become tired because of the amount of activity you pack into a short period of time, especially during weekends. Be aware of the signs of fatigue and stop and rest as soon as you feel tired even if you have not scheduled a break.

Prepare for emergencies

In case of an emergency carry a torch, blanket, dry clothes, tow rope, spade, wheel chocks and a first aid kit

• Equip yourself. For the maximum grip and safety make sure you get the right size of wheel chains for your vehicle's tyres.

• Carry a spade, tow rope, ground sheet (for fitting chains), rubber gloves, plastic ice scraper, torch and warm clothes.

• Use anti-freeze compound in the radiator and take along spare heater and radiator hoses. Make sure the battery is clean and in good condition.

• Make sure all lights are working and check the condition of your tyres (including the spare tyre).

• Check that your roof rack is well secured.

• Practice fitting your chains before you leave home to ensure they are the correct size for your tyres.

• Include a spare key. Someone in the party should have a spare key to the car. If you lose it skiing or coming home from a night out it will be difficult to recover in the snow.

Wheel Chains

Practice fitting wheel chains before leaving home.

At all alpine resorts you can be fined for not carrying and fitting chains as directed.