Kolonnekjøring
Kolonnekjøring (= driving in a column) is carried out on high mountain crossings in Norway and Sweden as well as in the Finnish part of Lapland in winter when the weather is bad. Numerous mountain stretches or plateaus such as B. the road over the Hardangervidda are closed to traffic and only released for a short time for the passage of a guided convoy. The reason for this is often not the snowfall, but the strong wind . This drives loose snow onto the roadway and makes it impassable in a very short time in the form of often very high and long snow drifts . The use of a snow plow can only remedy this for a short time.
execution
All vehicles must wait in the valley in front of a barrier system and / or traffic light system (red traffic light) and line up in a line of vehicles. The waiting time can be several hours.
At fixed times, which are either written on the barrier or when enough vehicles have come together, the mountain crossing is opened for the passage of the column. If no transit times are indicated, you can inquire about the exact transit times at any time by calling Statens vegvesen in Norway on 175 .
The first vehicle to drive is a snow plow or snow blower , which moves the snow from the roadway. The vehicles in the column follow closely behind, with each vehicle having to have lights and hazard lights switched on and must remain in front of the vehicle while maintaining the necessary safety distance. The driver of the winter service vehicle in front sets the speed for the convoy. The last vehicle used is a road administration vehicle, which ensures that no vehicle is left behind. If there is a problem, the driver of the clearing vehicle is informed and the convoy remains standing until the problem is resolved. On the other side of the mountain crossing, the column dissolves and the clearing vehicle drives back with a new column.
As a rule, there is no oncoming traffic at Kolonnekjøring, so that the entire width of the lane can be used in one direction.
In most cases, the view of the next vehicle in front is very poor due to the snow blown up by the clearing vehicle, the wind and the other vehicles in front, even the taillights of the vehicle in front are often difficult to see, even during the day - therefore increased attention is necessary.
The operation of the signal systems and the opening / closing of the barriers or the rotating barriers are usually carried out by the drivers of the clearing vehicles. The instructions of the winter service must be followed.
equipment
The drivers of the clearing vehicles can exclude vehicles that are not adequately equipped from driving in the convoy. For example, if the occupants are not adequately equipped with warm clothing or the tires do not appear to be suitable.
Winter tires with a tread depth of at least 5 mm on all axles, including trailers, are mandatory for vehicles and trailers with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or more in Norway in the winter half-year, as is Sweden; also have snow chains often required and these must be included in the winter season in Norway (vehicles over 3.5 tonnes). Since trucks often need snow chains for more than one axle, trucks in Norway have to carry at least seven snow chains with them during the winter months. In Sweden, cars and other vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes must have winter tires fitted in winter road conditions (minimum tread depth 3 mm); the same applies in the Finnish part of Lapland. The same applies in Norway; alternatively, summer tires with fitted snow chains are allowed there.
Insufficient winter equipment (e.g. driving with summer tires, driving with worn winter tires under 3 mm profile thickness (vehicles from 3.5 tons 5 mm profile thickness) or driving without snow chains, although the road conditions require this, etc.) is usually punished; the Norwegian police usually impose substantial fines and shut down vehicles until they have the necessary winter equipment. This is especially true for trucks, because a lack of winter equipment in such vehicles leads to a considerable traffic hazard for other road users. To improve traction and driving stability in winter road conditions, tractor units in Norway and Sweden are usually three-axle; With the mostly two-axle tractor units from other European countries, compliance with the winter equipment regulations is therefore taken very carefully in Norway and Sweden.
An incident in the Easter tourist traffic in 2007 shows that such strict requirements are justified. On the trip over the Hardangervidda , due to the bad weather during the convoy, no further progress was possible. There were 180 people in the column's vehicles. The people had to wait two nights in the Halne Fjellstova hut right next to the road before the column could continue.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ European regulations on winter equipment for trucks and buses. Continental AG , accessed on October 3, 2016 .
- ↑ Winter vehicle equipment abroad (winter tires / snow chains). ADAC , accessed on October 3, 2016 .
- ↑ Flemming Trondsen: 180 fortsatt værfaste på Hardangervidda. Aftenposten , April 5, 2007, accessed March 10, 2017 (Norwegian).