Since Tuesday, at least 12 cm of snow have fallen in Paris and up to 20 cm in Ile-de-France. Despite advice from public authorities, some motorists set off on snow-covered roads and remained stuck in their vehicles overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Why do people in the Ile-de-France region struggle with their cars in snowy weather?
“Motorists are simply not used to it,” says Patrick, instructor at the CER driving school in Puteaux (Hauts-de-Seine). According to him, the situation can be stressful for Ile-de-France residents, who are often afraid of driving in snowy weather. His driving school is also closed due to weather conditions, and he specifies that he “cannot teach students to drive, because it is a dangerous and special situation”.
For Daniel Quéro, president of the 40 million motorists association, “there is a lack of anticipation from the public authorities”. Even if Ile-de-France residents have difficulty driving in this type of situation, it would have been necessary to “mobilize the police to help with traffic”, but also for “the Ministry of Transport to warn motorists on Tuesday not to take the road “.
What are the best practices to adopt?
On Wednesday morning, the Ministry of Transport advised motorists not to drive and to favor public transport, which is not all insured. In Essonne and Seine-Saint-Denis, no buses run. In the rest of Ile-de-France, the exit of buses “is done on a case-by-case basis depending on the accessibility of the roads”, communicates the RATP. The rest of the traffic remains slow. Daniel Quéro also recommends not “setting out on the road, unless you are used to driving in snowy weather”.
It is also recommended to use “snow tires if you have them available,” says Patrick, a driving school instructor, although few Ile-de-France residents have them.
Motorists must drive cautiously and “not drive fast,” he says. The vehicle must be cleared of snow: “the roof, the windows but also the front and rear lights”. It is also important to anticipate any potentially dangerous situations.
How to anticipate and prepare for unusual weather conditions?
During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, between 1,500 and 2,000 people found themselves stuck on the N118 without necessarily having resources on board. On Wednesday, at midday, more than 900 cars were still stuck, according to the police headquarters. In complicated weather conditions, you must anticipate and plan to “refuel regularly”. It is also important to carry “a bottle of water and some food, in case of a major traffic jam.” »