NSW -VIC - CONCLUSIONS

Snow Chain use and Autosocks

(dated April 18th, 2011)

NSW

Experiences in 2010 have been the following;

No customers using Autosocks had any issues with authorities on the road to Thredbo.

No customers using Autosocks had any issues with authorities on the road to Mt Selwyn.

2 customers in 2WD vehicles were fined $300 for not carrying "chains" on the road to Persiher. If this happens in 2011 we would like oppose the fine in court in order to obtain a legal ruling on the existing laws covering chains.

There are no problems whatsover with AWD vehicles using Autosocks on any road in NSW

We recommend that if you have a 2WD vehicle which cannot use conventional chains that you ski at Thredbo or Mt Selwyn.

Some customers last season decided to take Autosocks (as the safest and usually only option for their car) but also to hire a set of conventional chains in case they were pulled over and asked to produce them. This is not ideal however it is an option a number of people are taking.

 

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Chains are stated as being compulsory within the National Park for all 2WD vehicles from June 1 until October 1. This applies to the road from the Park entry to Perisher, Guthega, and beyond Thredbo to Dead Horse gap, it does not include the road to Mount Selwyn.

 

The RTA and National Parks recommend chains be carried at all times.

In my 36 years of experience I have found that clients generally err on the safety side and take chains to Thredbo, particularly if they are away for more than a day or two and the weather uncertain. Some clients have taken a risk and sustained damage to their vehicle or have paid a very large cost to have chains delivered to their snow bound vehicle or been towed out. This is not a frequent event but does occur and always the major concern is personal injury. I am of the view that all 2WD vehicles should carry chains to Thredbo and eliminate this "grey" area from the law.

In NSW 4WD's and AWD's are not required to take chains however the RTA and National Parks recommend all vehicles take chains. Given the high accident rate involving these vehicles the RTA sought to make it compulsory for these vehicles however the RTA have now withdrawn this proposal following considerable opposition from locals.

VICTORIA

DSE have advised us that all vehicles must carry chains on designated roads. This means AWD's, 4WD's and 2WD's

This means that at this stage AutoSocks are unable to be used in Victoria.

CONCLUSIONS

NSW

Snow chain laws come within the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

The national Parks need to be more specific on laws concerning chains to Thredbo. They should either totally exclude or include compulsory carrying of chains for 2WD vehicles on the Thredbo road from the National park entry point. I personally favor inclusion given my experience with clientele who for the most part consider the small cost of chain hire outweighs the risks. They DO NOT LIKE the indecision.

A warning bulletin needs to be emailed or faxed to specialty chain hire business if the road from Jindabyne to Bullocks Rail Station is snow or ice covered. This is not a frequent event but can be an absolute shambles when the road is snow covered.

Large posters need to be provided by the NPWS to appropriate outlets (service stations, food outlets, and specialty chain hire business) on the highway between Sydney and Canberra, Canberra to Jindabyne, Yass to Canberra, Tumut to Cooma and Kanchoban to Thredbo which clearly indicate laws and snow and ice risk roads. Given in recent years the very high increase in day visitors to the Park, many of whom are totally unfamiliar with the National Park and alpine driving, a poster would be of considerable benefit. Smaller handouts should also be provided. That poster should be made available via web sites and for inclusion in independent sites operated by specialty chain hire business.

VICTORIA

The laws are simple given all vehicles must carry chains but perhaps similar posters as above should apply)

WHAT CONSTITUTES A SNOW CHAIN?

Generally the laws say you "must carry a properly fitted snow chain. The law does not nominate a standard which a snow chain must comply as is the case in northern hemisphere countries. Fortunately most chains in use in Australia do comply with International standards and most inferior imports have now gone from the market.

There is however a major problem with what constitutes a properly fitting snow chain. Many new vehicles (now Holden’s and Fords with 18” rims and many Euro cars) incorporating high tech transmissions state that chains cannot be fitted. Many new vehicles are equipped with very wide tires and there is insufficient space between tire and suspension to fit a metal chain. Therefore in these cases as the law stands there is not a "properly fitted snow chain" available without first modifying the vehicle.

In NSW owners of 2WD vehicles and in Victoria all vehicles falling into this category theoretically would have to replace tires and rims with a narrower width tire to enable fitting of a metal chain. This is an impossible and unrealistic task. Where electronic safety systmes such as ESP and ABS are in use then owners will need to consult the manufacturer whether chain use can damage the transmission. From my experience again an impossible task. Snow tires are an expensive option and not legal on 2WD's in NSW and not on any vehicle in Victoria. There are narrow link metal chains available however the degree of difficulty in fitting these chains for the inexperienced represents yet another safety problem.

Given the issues I advised the RTA in 2009 (and sent a copy to DSE) that we would adopt the following for sale and hire;

1. Metal chains would be our first choice.
2. In the event a metal chain could not be fitted we would offer Autosocks as the only viable safe solution.

We have expanded our advice based on our very considerable experience to recommend;

Any 4WD, AWD or 2WD running radial tires with a profile of 245mm or greater in 45 series or less should carry metal chains on drive wheels. Where this is not possible Autosocks should be taken.

1. In all of these vehicles if the profiles of the steering tires (radial) exceed 245mm width then steering chains or Autosocks be used. We are aware of some (very expensive) AWD vehicles running 300+mm in 40 series or less the steering tires have proven to be very dangerous in icy conditions. In these cases metal chains cannot be fitted and we supply Autosocks. In NSW this is a legal option for AWD's and 4WD's.

Since 2008 we have raised the chain safety issue supported by detailed analysis to the RTA. In recent times I have attempted to consult with the Department of Environment and Climate Change (responsible for the National Parks and Wildlife Act), made several calls to the National Parks office at Jindabyne and asked for assistance from local politician Steve Whan, all without response. In Victoria DSE did respond by saying their laws were not going to change.

CONCLUSIONS

Essentially chain laws for both NSW and Victoria would appear to have been drafted 20 or more years ago. Technology in motor vehicles has changed and continues to change at a very high rate and old laws need to be modified, as has been done in northern hemisphere countries, to accommodate new motor vehicle technology.

My own thoughts on the issue are;

1. For constant use owners or hirers should use metal chains or modify their vehicles to accommodate metal chains. There are advantages in diamond pattern chains as opposed to ladder chains however from my experience the ease of fitting ladder chains, particularly for the inexperienced, outweighs the difficulties in fitting diamond pattern and consequent damage to vehicle. In 36 years I have yet to have a problem with ladder chains in rental when installed correctly. I do acknowledge that a properly fitted diamond pattern change is superior.
2. Snow tires are not an economic alternate given the cost of probable rim replacement and the very high wear rate on dry roads. They should however be legal and carry an inspection certificate prior to each season.
3. Autosocks or similar traction devices are by nature not satisfactory for heavy continued use and in these cases owners should modify tires and rims to accommodate metal chains. Autosocks or traction devices should be approved in cases where there is no safe chain alternate and in cases where metal chains could damage transmissions.
4. All metal chains, traction devices and tires should meet with appropriate ONORM Austrian standards and be TUV (German) tested and approved.

Your comments are welcome - email here.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Contact your local member to make them aware of your own situation and what you think needs to be done.

WHAT WE CAN DO?

We would like to compile a comprehensive list of vehicle makes and models which are unable to use conventional metal chains.

We will continue to lobby for change as we don't see that there is any alternative for so many drivers.

Add your support for Autosocks on our Facebook page.

 

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