Training: More safety on ice and snow 🎥
EXERCISE MAKES THE MASTER Driving on snow and ice can be practiced. With its winter driving training courses in January and February, TCS offers the opportunity to gain more safety in all road conditions.
Drivers in the lowlands were confronted with snow and slippery road conditions early on this winter. Even with the right equipment, you can get into trouble. According to the TCS, the most common mistakes made when driving in winter conditions are not adapting your speed and not leaving sufficient distance to other vehicles.
Adrian Suter, Head of Education and Training at Touring Club Switzerland: "Most people don't realize that the braking distance on snow is many times longer. What's more, some drivers are overwhelmed when their vehicle starts to slide."
In addition to the 15 year-round driver training centers in Switzerland, the TCS operates two further winter driving centers in Zernez/GR and in Bourg-St-Pierre/VS. Special driver training courses on snow are held there in January and February.
From dry snow to ice
As soon as the ground is frozen, the training areas in Zernez and Bourg-St-Pierre are prepared for winter training. During the one-day course, participants practise assessing different situations and mastering the vehicle in winter conditions. During the course of the day, the snow becomes hard as a rock and increasingly slippery, which affects the grip of the tires and the driving behavior and additionally challenges the participants with new conditions. The TCS instructors give instructions and tips by radio.
Commitment to road safety
These TCS courses are part of the commitment to road safety. The aim is to prevent accidents, and the club is involved in all three relevant road safety issues: People, means of transportation and infrastructure. In addition to basic and advanced training courses, the human factor includes the distribution of didactic materials for road safety education in schools, prevention campaigns and the distribution of almost 200,000 illuminated belts and vests for children every year. On the subject of infrastructure, the mobility club carries out tests and audits in municipalities and on roads, and when it comes to the transport factor, the TCS provides advice on all mobility issues.
One day of the Snow & Ice course costs from CHF 410 (CHF 370 for TCS members) including meals. The course must be completed in your own vehicle. Winter tires are mandatory, spikes and snow chains are not permitted.
