O Christmas tree, where are your green leaves?
In the best case, it is only distributed in the interior of the vehicle – in the worst case, it hits the front or rear window of the road user!
When transporting Christmas tree It seems that the imagination of German drivers has no limits. In the trunk, in the back seat or on the roof: the main thing is that the tree goes with you.
But it can be dangerous! Even though you are stressed, you must remain calm and be careful when moving the tree. BILD has the most important tips:
Inside: Full of brains
► The German Road Safety Council (DV) advises against folding the passenger seat and/or pushing the tree all the way forward. May limit the driver’s view or obscure vehicle controls.
► Push the tree into the trunk with the trunk tip first. It is best to secure it with a wooden plank between the front seats and the trunk.
► Tying the tree securely in the car helps in case of an accident or emergency braking. Attach durable straps (not expanders) directly to the trunk. Don’t forget to use an underlay (an old blanket or sheet), this will save you a lot of cleaning work later.
► The tree can jut out from the trunk – but only up to 1.5 meters, he said ADAC. If the length protrudes one meter, the end must be marked with a red flag (minimum 30 by 30 centimeters).
Caution: When transporting with the trunk lid/rear door open, the number plates, headlights, indicators and tail lights must not be covered. Additionally, tighten the cap/cover with a tension strap.
As a roof trunk: Trees can be deadly projectiles
When transported as roof baggage, the top of the tree should point backwards. This means that the branches were not damaged during the journey. If the tree protrudes more than one meter beyond the rear of the car, a red warning flag must also be installed at the end.
► IMPORTANT: Trees should not protrude from the front or side of the car; a maximum of 1.5 meters is allowed to the rear.
► Adapt your driving style to the tree on the roof: medium speed, gentle acceleration and braking.
► Fasten the tree directly to the trunk and tie it securely with the support system. The padding between the tree and the car roof protects against paint scratches. It is best to have two people lift the tree onto the roof, as this can also avoid scratches and dents.
Attention: Who The load is not secured properlywho faces a 60 euro fine and one point in Flensburg. If you do not display the warning flag, you will be subject to an additional fine of 25 euros.
By the way, lost trees are also valuable: Those Fines catalogue provides a fine of 35 euros for traffic disruption due to loss of load, and even 50 euros and 3 points in Flensburg if other road users are in danger.
If a third party is injured while transporting the tree, motor vehicle liability insurance applies if damage occurs during transit or while loading or unloading the Christmas tree. In other cases, private liability insurance is beneficial.
