Snow season road safety
When you’re headed to the snow this winter, it is important to understand the different challenges of driving in the alpine region.
Decreased visibility, bad weather, heavy snowfall and wildlife bring increased risk when driving. Colder weather can also affect the running of your car and its safety features.
To drive safely during snow season, familiarise yourself with the following road safety tips.
On this page:
Preparing for your trip to the snow
- Have your vehicle checked – Snowy conditions may highlight existing vehicle faults, particularly in the electrical system. Have your tyres, battery, brakes, cooling system, engine and windscreen inspected.
- Add anti-freeze to your engine radiator – Most modern cars use coolant with wide temperature capabilities, but you'll need to check with your service provider if special coolant is needed. Adding anti-freeze to your windscreen washing fluid will prevent it freezing on the windscreen when driving.
- Use cold-weather diesel – If you drive a diesel vehicle, it is a good idea to use cold-weather 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 the trip – Weather can change quickly in the mountains and make progress slow.
- Have regular breaks – Driving to the snow fields can be tiring because of bad weather, darkness and narrow, winding roads. Watch for signs of travel fatigue and stop and rest as soon as you feel tired to stop, revive, survive.
- Prepare for emergencies – Carry a torch, blanket, dry clothes, tow rope, spade, wheel chocks and first-aid kit. In the event of an emergency, call 000.
When you are on the road to the snow
- Adjust your speed to the weather. Slow down when conditions deteriorate, particularly in fog, snow or ice conditions.
- Drive with your headlights on low beam during daytime to improve your visibility to other road users, lighting can be poor around mountains, especially in winter.
- Always obey the speed limit and signs, especially wildlife warning signs. You should also know what to do if you hit an animal. See the Collisions with wildlife page for more information.
- Don’t drive if you can’t see the edge of the road or the next snow pole. These are painted orange and are tall enough for drivers to find their way in heavy snow.
- Take care when driving at night or at dawn or dusk – surface moisture and dew can freeze into black ice which can remain in shaded or low-lying areas even during fine days.
- Snow chains are recommended when driving in bad conditions to help drivers and reduce accidents. See more information below on how and when to use snow chains.
Snow chains
Snow chains are recommended when driving in bad conditions. National Park regulations require all vehicles (except four-wheel drives) to carry chains between the June and October long weekends when driving through designated ‘snow and ice’ risk sections. These sections are identified by black and yellow signs within the Kosciuszko National Park.
- When directed by signs or authorities, fit the chains to the vehicle’s driving wheels. There are special chain fitting bays along the route.
- Make sure you fit the chains to the driving wheels. These are the back wheels on rear-wheel drive cars and front wheels on front-wheel drive cars. If in doubt, check the car user’s manual or with your service provider.
- Make sure your chains are suitable for the wheel diameter and tyre size of your vehicle. If possible, practise fitting the chains in good conditions so that you know how to put them on.
- To be effective, some part of the chain must be in contact with the road surface at all times. Some types of snow chains, such as certain ladder chains, should not be used as the spacing between the chain rungs can be excessive and allow the bare tyre contact with the road surface.
- Tyre pressure should be 25 PSI or higher when using chains. Tyre manufactures recommend that cars with radial tyres shouldn't travel faster than 40 km/h when fitted with chains. Stop and check the tension of the chains after driving about 200 metres.
- Remove the chains promptly when you are told it's safe to do so.
- Although four-wheel drive vehicles are excluded from the requirements to carry and fit chains, it is recommended that drivers of four-wheel drive vehicles carry snow chains and fit them when directed. This includes off-road vehicles, all-wheel drive vehicles and sports utilities. Vehicles fitted with winter tyres are excepted. Chains improve traction on slippery roads and are helpful in extreme weather conditions.
- Winter tyres are designed for driving on roads affected by snow or ice. They provide performance equivalent to snow chains on four-wheel drive vehicles when driving on snow, and a better performance than standard tyres when driving on clear roads in cold conditions. Sometimes known as ‘snow tyres’, they should not be confused with ‘snow and mud tyres’ that are commonly fitted to off-road vehicles. Winter tyres are marked with a standard logo symbolising a snowflake and a mountain.
- As an alternative to snow chains, four-wheel drive vehicles not fitted with winter tyres may be fitted with snow traction devices.
