HANOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Every year, packed motorways on the holiday weekends reveal that Germany's citizens also prefer to use their own cars to travel to their holiday destinations. Almost one in two (43 per cent) take their vehicle with them when they travel.* Yet, for many motorists, it has been quite a while since they took their driving test; in the meantime, traffic regulations and requirements may have changed. The experts from ReifenDirekt.de have some tips for motorists.
The question of footwear.
Summer is here and it isn't just open-air season for convertibles, but for feet too. It's peak season for flip-flops, high heels and bare feet. But are motorists allowed to drive like that? Yes, they are. The law does allow some freedoms. However, in the event of an accident, insurance companies like to take a closer look to see if any negligence might have been involved. As long as drivers can assess whether they are able to maintain full control of their vehicles with – or without – their footwear, "freedom of footwear" is granted.
The question of sleep.
Out of the office and straight onto the motorway: This shortest of routes is scarcely to be recommended. "For one thing, it isn't a good idea to take on the additional task of driving longer distances after a demanding day at work; for another thing, the need to carry out a thorough check of your vehicle before starting your holiday should be obvious from a safety perspective," advises expert Philip von Grolman from ReifenDirekt.de. Sometimes, however, it gets late and the darkness catches up with the driver. In such cases, motorists often like to use parking spaces at motorway service areas or petrol stations as a place to sleep. Yet here, especially in some European countries, extra caution is advised: During the holiday period, it is not uncommon for travellers to have valuables and travel documents stolen while they are asleep in the car.
The question of thirst.
While people are enjoying the lively holiday atmosphere, they sometimes like to have an extra little glass of beer or wine. In many European countries, motorists risk severe penalties if they are caught at the wheel after having consumed alcoholic drinks. The strictest regulations are those in the Czech Republic and in Hungary. The legal alcohol limit in these countries is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.0 per mille. In the Czech Republic, fines start at 100 euros; in Hungary, fines of up to 980 euros can be imposed. In most European countries, the legal alcohol limit is a BAC of 0.5 per mille, which is the case in Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland. Whereas offenders in France are asked to pay fines starting at 135 euros, those in Italy are faced with fines of at least 500 euros. It gets really expensive for drink-drivers in the United Kingdom, where offenders can be fined up to over 5,000 euros. In Sweden, where the legal alcohol limit is a BAC of 0.2 per mille, fines starting at 40 day-fine units are charged, and offenders in Denmark have to reckon with a penalty of at least one month's income.
The question of tread.
How much tread do the tyres of my vehicle need to have? In Europe, the legal limit for tread depth is 1.6 millimetres. However, it is recommended that summer tyres are replaced at a tread depth of three millimetres and winter tyres are replaced at a tread depth of four millimetres. It's an investment in safe driving that many motorists nonetheless fail to make. This is the conclusion reached by the Delticom Report 2014, a recent study among European motorists. Nearly 30 per cent of motorists surveyed only change their tyres when they reach the 1.6 millimetre limit. The finding shows that, unfortunately, the importance of tyres for safe driving is evidently not yet recognised by everyone.
Check for greater safety.
A good tyre check pays off in terms of increased safety. "Worn or damaged tyres can lead to dangerous driving situations or even a tyre blowout," warn safety experts. In Delticom online shops – at ReifenDirekt in Germany, Austria and Switzerland – motorists can find the right replacement quickly and straightforwardly when they need it.
*Source: Statista statistics portal
Information about the company: www.delti.com
Online shops: www.reifendirekt.de, www.reifendirekt.at, www.reifendirekt.ch/www.123pneus.ch
