During Christmas, the traffic is often intense, the weather and road conditions can change quickly, and even if no major weather chaos is expected during the Christmas weekend, you need to be prepared. The Swedish Transport Agency have reported that both December 21 and 22 are particularly unlucky days. During that period in 2023, 3,745 people were injured in traffic and five died. Almost half of all accidents occurred on snowy or icy roads. The Swedish Transport Agency has now issued an important call to everyone who is going to travel.
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Keep track of weather warnings
According to Roberto Maioranadirector general at the Swedish Transport Administration, all travelers should follow the weather forecasts and take weather warnings seriously.
– Follow the weather development and SMHI’s updates. Take yellow warnings seriously, and orange warnings even more seriously. Think about it, says Roberto Maiorana in an interview in South Sweden.
All travelers should follow weather forecasts and take weather warnings seriously, according to Roberto Maiorana. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT
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Two things you should always have with you when you travel
It’s not just about staying up-to-date, but also about being properly equipped, according to the Swedish Transport Administration. If you are going out and traveling this winter, there are mainly two things that are especially important to always have with you:
This can be crucial if you get stuck in traffic or have an accident, especially during the cold winter months. But in addition to packing the right things, it is important to make sure that the car is equipped for winter.
– Is the car properly equipped for winter road conditions? With the right tires? Are there warm clothes? Is the driver alert behind the wheel? Keep your distance and speed limits, says Roberto Maiorana.
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