Winter Driving Tips from ACL

The ACL’s Top Tips:

• It is always best to listen to the weather report on the evening before. If snow is forecast, you will have to allow for traffic jams and delays. In this event, it is worth making an earlier start, or switching to public transport.

• Before setting off, clear all windows thoroughly of snow and ice. If you only partially clear them you could be jointly liable for an accident.

• Testing your brakes, after travelling just a few metres, will give you a feel for the changed road conditions. But before you do, check in your rear-view mirror!
• Generally speaking, there is nothing to be gained from short cuts through quiet residential streets. These streets are rarely gritted and tend to be cleared much later on and sometimes not at all.

• Before junctions and traffic lights keep a generous, safe distance and pay attention to vehicles in front because it can get particularly icy here.

• Extreme care must be taken on bridges. They can become treacherous with black ice in winter because they are “cooled” from above and below. Freezing fog, in particular, can make bridges very slippery indeed during cold weather.

Useful information about the PREPARATION OF THE CAR:

• Mount four winter tires in good condition. As a reminder, in Luxembourg, winter tires are mandatory in winter weather, regardless of the time of year. Winter conditions are defined as “ice, packed snow, slush, slush, patches of ice or frost”. These tires must be marked M+S, M.S., M&S or carry the mountain symbol with the snowflake.

• Have the battery status checked, as it remains the number one failure. Remember that the average life of a battery is 4 to 5 years. Of course, several factors influence the condition of the battery, such as weather conditions, digital features or accessories connected to the vehicle’s electrical system.

• Check the lighting.

• Treat the door seals with, for example, glycerin or candle wax to prevent the gel from sticking the rubber of the doors to the metal of the bodywork.

• Check the wiper blades, and if necessary, replace them.

• Fill-up the windshield washer level with antifreeze.

• Do the “Winter Test” at the ACL-Diagnostic Center

To ensure that your car is ready for winter, the ACL Diagnostic Center offers the “Winter Test”.

During this test, the specialists at the Diagnostic Center check, on the basis of a technical sheet, the condition of your car and whether it is prepared against the hazards of winter.

The winter test, which costs only €39.00 for ACL members (€67.00 for non-members), includes the following controls: brakes and general tyre condition, suspension, steering, shock absorbers, chassis, transmission, lighting and antifreeze control, parallelism, exhaust system, visual examination of the engine, alternator and OBD (On Board Diagnose) reading.

If, despite all precautions, your vehicle still breaks down, the ACL will help you in any situation at any time of the day or night. Simply contact the ACL Assistance Center on (+352 from abroad) 26000 or, if you have already downloaded the “eCall mobile” ACL App on your smartphone, simply call the emergency services via this method and all the information previously entered about you and your car is sent directly to the Assistance Center. This will help to geolocate you and speed up the troubleshooting process.

Please arrange an appointment at the ACL-Diagnostic Center at 45 00 45 – 6007 or by e-mail at dc1@acl.lu