- Road safety
- Motoring advice
- Driving in Europe
- Summer Drivetime Magazine
- Winter Drivetime Magazine
- Handy Tips Video
Make sure it’s all white on the slopes
With more and more of us choosing to travel independently and take our own cars to European winter ski destinations, many risk getting caught out with the expense of vehicle recovery back to Britain if they have an accident on the slopes.
According to the Ski Club of Great Britain, over one million Brits travelled to ski resorts last year, with 1 in 10 choosing to drive themselves. And many doing the same this season will leave protection against mechanical breakdowns off their holiday checklist.
"While personal insurance remains high on everyone’s checklist, many forget to take out the necessary extra cover required to protect their vehicle against all conditions and problems that could arise both on or off the piste. Without it the cost of their ski holiday could spiral out of control", explained Green Flag’s Dan Robinson.
Even if the outward journey is smooth, a hard tumble on the slopes could prove costly for injured motorists. And while personal travel insurance covers medical costs and repatriation of people, it does not organise or cover the cost of getting the car home.
Without the necessary cover, recovery of a car and repatriation from the French Alps, if the only driver is incapacitated, could cost up to £2,000 for the return journey to a UK port, plus a further 90p for every subsequent kilometre spent on the journey home.
But there are plenty of reasons to take the car to the slopes, as Nigel explains: "Driving abroad means you avoid the queues at the airports and transporting the equipment you need is easier in a car, especially if you have a roof rack."
The most popular driving destinations for Brits are those ski resorts that can be reached in one day’s journey such as Chamonix, Val d’Isere and La Plagne, but Northern Italian resorts such as La Thuile and Livigno are reachable if you’re willing to drive that little bit further.
Driving in Europe, especially at high altitude, can present problems for motorists. Most ski resorts high in the mountain ranges are off the beaten track, and the approach can be a treacherous journey for the unprepared.
"People forget that driving in mountainous areas can be a new experience, particularly on snow. And then drivers have to be aware of the driving legislation in each country," says Nigel. "In France for example, a warning triangle is compulsory as are headlamp adjustments. The drink/drive limit in France is 50mg as opposed to 80mg in Britain and motoring offences attract on-the-spot fines."
As part of a package of benefits, Green Flag’s EuroPlus cover includes the cost of extra accommodation and a hire car in the event of a breakdown and even a chauffeur service to drive the poor driver back to the UK.