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Germany Issues Winter Driving Reminders: DIY De-Icing Tips, ADAC Warning, and Fines

New advice prioritizes safe de-icing methods under enforceable winter rules.

Overview

  • t-online highlights a quick homemade de-icer of three parts vinegar to one part water, with alternatives using spirit (1:1 with water) or commercial antifreeze (2:1).
  • ADAC reiterates that pouring hot water on frozen glass risks cracks or shattered windshields, noting that even cooler water can refreeze into a thicker ice layer.
  • inFranken details penalties under the StVO, including €10 for an obscured plate, €25 for uncleared roof snow, €10 for a windshield peephole, and €80 for unnecessary engine idling.
  • Chip.de suggests slipping an empty kitchen-roll tube over wiper blades to prevent freezing and notes a cat-litter-filled sock can reduce interior moisture over time but won’t clear fogged windows in motion.
  • Further guidance advises avoiding pre-start heater use, not blasting heat immediately, skipping recirculation on foggy glass, starting in second gear on ice, and remembering snow-chain speeds top out at 50 km/h.