Here's how to get through the winter traffic jam safely

When nothing else works, only one thing remains: patience. Because whether it's simply too crowded, snow and ice paralyze traffic, or more complicated recoveries are needed after accidents – sometimes everything comes to a standstill on the highway or the country road. And that can certainly take a while. 

Prepared for the Traffic Jam

The ADAC provides tips on how drivers can prepare for such situations.

First, the usual winter equipment should be on board. This includes:

• Ice scraper
• Hand brush
• Gloves - for example, to wear while scraping windows
• Windshield antifreeze
• Jump leads
• Flashlight - can be useful for outdoor work in the dark

Especially useful for routes with possible heavy snowfall:

• Shovel
• Some grit or sand
• Tow rope
• Check for snow chain requirements at the destination when traveling for a ski vacation

• The ADAC provides tips on how drivers can prepare for such situations.

  First, the usual winter equipment should be on board. This includes:

• Ice scraper
• Hand brush
• Gloves - for example, to wear while scraping windows
• Windshield antifreeze
• Jump leads
• Flashlight - can be useful for outdoor work in the dark

• Especially useful for routes with possible heavy snowfall:

• Shovel
• Some grit or sand
• Tow rope
• Check for snow chain requirements at the destination when traveling for a ski vacation

Specifically for longer trips, it is recommended to take some provisions – such as durable snacks and hot tea in a thermos. Having blankets and jackets is always sensible even without traffic jams and also on shorter routes, as during a breakdown on the highway you must stand behind the guardrail.

A charging cable or a power bank for the phone should not be missing. If necessary, regularly required medications should also be in the car.

Do Not Ignore Traffic Information and Assistance

If it is expected to take longer, you should pay attention to the information for the relevant section on the radio or via a mobile app. During longer standstills, helpers are often sent to distribute hot drinks or blankets.

If fuel or energy runs low or medical assistance is required, it’s best to call emergency number 112 or signal neighboring cars in the traffic jam, advises the ADAC.

This is especially true for electric cars in winter traffic jams

Do drivers of electric cars need to worry during longer standstill periods? Might the heating eventually fail as it draws its energy from the battery and not from engine waste heat like in a combustion engine?

Here, the ADAC offers some reassurance, referencing their own tests. According to them, electric cars consume around 1.5 to 2 kilowatt-hours (kWh) to consistently heat the interior to 20 degrees Celsius over an hour at a minus 10-degree outdoor temperature.

Enough energy for hours of warmth

In the extreme example of a ten-hour traffic jam, this would result in an energy consumption of 15 to 20 kWh. But most electric cars today have batteries with significantly larger capacities. This means that even on a traffic-heavy winter night, without energy-saving measures, the car can be kept at a comfortable temperature for several hours.

However, it's important that the battery is sufficiently charged, so never recharge at the last minute. This is because electric cars consume on average about 20 to 30 percent more energy in winter when driving - reducing their range.

According to the ADAC, on short trips, the range can be halved in extreme cases. This is because they cannot utilize engine waste heat for interior heating. The drive battery also needs to be brought to operating temperature - all of which consumes energy.