Core: Snow, black ice and winter tyres: clearing, driving style and the chain rule

Before you set off, you clear windows, lights, mirrors, roof and number plates of snow or ice; you are already liable to a fine if you have insufficient sight through the windscreen and the front side windows (Book p.192). If the road surface is slippery, you take four measures to avoid a skid: reduce your speed, keep more distance, brake earlier and more gently, steer more carefully and smoothly (Book p.192). The advised speed on a sign applies under favourable weather conditions; in snow, black ice and slippery conditions your speed must be considerably lower than that sign indicates (Book p.193). In snowfall, just as in fog, you may use your rear fog light when visibility is under 50 metres, and your front fog light when visibility is severely limited (under about 200 metres). Do not use full beam during snowfall: you get blinded by the reflection of the light on the snowflakes, and full beam is already banned during the day anyway (Book p.194). Winter tyres are not mandatory in the Netherlands, but below 7 degrees and on a snow-covered road surface they give more grip than ordinary tyres; you recognise them by a snowflake symbol and an M+S logo. A minimum tread depth of 4 mm is advised for winter tyres (Book p.195). In the Netherlands the use of metal snow chains is banned; plastic snow chains are allowed (Book p.196).