Legal regulations Winter road clearance
Overview of the most important winter road clearance regulations
- When does the winter maintenance obligation apply?
- What needs to be done?
- Who is liable for winter maintenance?
- Which gritting agents are permitted?
Is there a winter service obligation?
and who is obligated?
Yes, in order to prevent accidents and damage to footpaths, every property owner is obliged to ensure that the traffic areas on their property are properly secured in winter in accordance with the bylaws, as the municipality or city is not responsible for clearing these areas. The duty to ensure road safety includes winter road clearance in the event of snow and icy conditions, snow clearing in the event of icy conditions and gritting in the event of icy conditions
Traders are also obliged!
Every trader is also obliged to ensure safety on their business premises and parking lots. If a customer or passer-by is injured on your premises due to snow or slippery conditions, this can have legal consequences, such as the payment of compensation for pain and suffering due to The use of the product may result in a breach of the duty to maintain safety and you may be held liable for the damage caused.
Companies, commercial enterprises and traders who own commercial real estate are obliged to secure their traffic areas. The same applies to property owners who rent out retail space, workshops, offices or halls. The duty to ensure road safety in winter includes
- Winter service in snow
- Winter road clearance in icy conditions
- Ice clearing service
- Gritting in icy conditions
Furthermore, neglecting the obligation to clear roads can result in high fines. The amount of the fines varies from municipality to municipality.
How can I protect myself from liability claims?
Can the winter service be transferred?
This is possible – but companies should exercise caution: Anyone who transfers the gritting service to other people can still be held liable for any damage caused by inadequate clearing and/or gritting. Ideally, a gritting service such as EQQO guarantees the assumption of the liability risk or contractually stipulates the transfer of the duty to maintain road safety.
Companies can outsource the winter service on their premises to a service provider such as EQQO: With the market-leading winter service, companies can mark all relevant areas that are to be cleared regularly during the booking process. In this way, they not only fulfill their traffic safety obligations during the winter months – but also their duty of protection and care for employees.
Snow clearance from main routes on company premises is sufficient
EQQO assumes liability
EQQO takes the worry out of responsible winter maintenance. At the same time, we also assume liability for you so that you can concentrate fully on your business and your customers without having to worry about legal consequences in winter.
Did you know?
The advantages of our winter service
- 100% liability protection
- Transfer of the winter maintenance obligation
- Professional and reliable service
- Peace of mind through assumption of liability
- Design compliant with regulations
- Available throughout Germany
- Innovative winter maintenance platform
- Fixed price guarantee and transparent prices
When does the winter maintenance obligation apply?
Temperatures are falling – and the winter traffic safety obligation is becoming topical again. The duty to ensure road safety includes measures such as Clearing service and gritting service They serve to fulfill the traffic safety obligation on roads, squares and pathsn and to prevent hazards caused by snow, ices and slippery roads to avert. In principle, the winter maintenance obligation begins with the first snowfall or the the first slipperiness. Im Allgemeinen ist somit die Saison für den Winterdienst von November to Marchbut in individual cases it can also occur in the months before or after snowfall or icy roads, which is strongly dependent on weather fluctuations depends on the weather.
We are flexible
In public areas, local authorities are responsible for clearing snow and gritting, while landlords or contractors are responsible for winter maintenance on commercial properties. To be on the safe side, companies can delegate the duty of traffic safety to a winter service provider in their area such as EQQO.
With EQQO, you can also make use of the winter service outside the typical winter service season, for example when April does what it wants again. So you are always prepared and can always look at the weather forecast with a good feeling.
Which gritting agents are permitted?
Which gritting agents are permitted according to the legal regulations depends on the ordinance of your municipality or city. In public areas where residents have a duty of care, e.g. on footpaths, the use of rock salt is only permitted in certain situations (e.g. freezing rain) and in particularly hazardous areas, such as steps. Salt can be used on private areas (e.g. driveways). There is no distinction here between private individuals and businesses.
Why are there road salt bans?
Normal road salt can damage the environment, cars and buildings, as the salt has a corrosive effect. In addition, they can generally also have a negative impact on bodies of water.
What is the alternative to road salt?
So-called blunting materials offer a good alternative. These can be divided into mineral gritting granules, sand and granules made from renewable raw materials. Mineral gritting granulates such as gravel or grit are cheap and effective, but these usually sharp-edged materials can cause damage to footwear and smooth floors.
From the field to the ice rink?
Regenerative materials are usually more friable and therefore cannot cause any damage. In addition, these materials can be swept into green areas without any problems, unlike mineral materials. Nevertheless, they have a higher purchase price than mineral granules. Although these materials do not melt snow and ice, their composition in combination with snow and ice can increase the grip and sharp edges of the surface and thus “interlock” it. This provides better grip on slippery surfaces and snow, which can prevent injuries from falls.
EQQO offers environmentally friendly gritting materials
Individual price
Online and without obligation
in just 3 minutes
What are the legal requirements for compliant implementation?
Winter is approaching and you are wondering how to carry out winter maintenance in accordance with regulations? Then we have the solution for you! First of all, you should check the winter road clearance regulations of your municipality or town to find out what times clearing must take place on weekdays, Sundays and public holidays.
So how do you get started?
If you have now equipped yourself with a snow shovel and a gritting agent permitted by the bylaws, you can now start clearing. You can also find out how wide the passageways you have cleared must be in the winter road clearance regulations. For tradespeople, the entire commercial area, including parking lots, must be cleared in such a way that it is possible for employees and visitors to drive and walk on the areas without danger if reasonable care is taken.
What companies should know about the clearing and gritting obligation
With winter just around the corner, the duty to clear and grit is back on the agenda. The obligation to clear snow and grit is part of the duty to maintain road safety and the winter road clearance service in Germany. The winter service is responsible for clearing snow and gritting in the event of snow and ice. Companies are also obliged to keep their premises free of snow and ice.
Snow clearing is time-consuming, strenuous and can be dangerous. If you are a business and want to save on staff capacity and If you prefer to spend your time with your customers, at work or at home and at the same time don’t want to take any risks with winter maintenance, EQQO is your choice. EQQO not only offers 100% liability protection and a professional and reliable service, you can also calculate the price for clearing your area in just 3 minutes with the EQQO area calculator. With EQQO, your winter service is always carried out at the prescribed times, but usually earlier.
How the snow clearing service works
Never fear winter again with EQQO!
The Frankfurt am main winter road clearance regulations
In Germany, there is no general regulation as to who is responsible for clearing and gritting. In some cities, the building yard takes over the gritting service, in others, the residents themselves must ensure that their properties are cleared or gritted. In a business context, however, the situation is clear: companies are always responsible for keeping their commercial areas safe for traffic with a winter service.
What the winter road clearance regulations say
In the winter road clearance regulations you will find all relevant provisions and legal regulations on the implementation of winter road clearance in your municipality or city. Nach der Winterdienstsatzung von Frankfurt am Main, all sidewalks must be cleared by the owners of adjacent properties on all working days, Sundays and public holidays between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. be cleared. If snow cannot be cleared should refrain from blunting agents and thawing agents should only be used in exceptional cases special danger spots can be used. The cleared paths must therefore have a width of at least 150 cm show. The city also provides the winter road maintenance contractor gritting material available.
EQQO saves effort
EQQO has nationwide experience with various winter service statutes and independently ensures compliance with the winter service statutes of your business location.
Book the snow clearance service from EQQO, rely on:
- Efficient snow clearance with professional equipment
- Snow removal around the clock when it snows
- Transfer of the traffic safety obligation to EQQO
- 0% liability risk
Your advantages with EQQO winter maintenance
Your advantages with EQQO winter maintenance
To help you get through the winter season without any worries, EQQO winter services runs structured and coordinated processes in the background so that you as a business owner can relax and no longer have to worry about the safety of your areas or make phone calls.
Would you like comprehensive information about the advantages of EQQO winter services and find out why it makes sense to book a modern winter service from EQQO, what sets us apart from others and why we offer transparent prices and services? Then take a look at our video now!
With EQQO you no longer have to fear legal regulations
Price in just 3 minutes
We ensure perfect security on your commercial premises.
Reliability
Thanks to modern equipment and technologies, your commercial premises can be cleared quickly and efficiently.
Quality
We attach particular importance to the quality of our service.
Flexibility
We also respond to unforeseen weather conditions to keep your surfaces safe.
Liability security
As a professional winter service provider, we take over your traffic safety obligations completely.
Specialist knowledge
Thanks to our expertise and knowledge, we can guarantee you implementation in compliance with regulations.
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When the Schneeberg becomes a monument
Enter at your own risk?
Why signs do not protect against winter road maintenance
A sign with the inscription “Enter at your own risk” may give the impression that the responsibility for entering the slippery or snow-covered area lies with the person entering the area. From a legal point of view, however, this does not exempt the person from the winter maintenance obligation and therefore no exclusion of liability can be made. Only the contributory negligence of the person who fell can be increased in court, as the specific danger has been clearly pointed out.
EQQO ask instead of dare signs
With EQQO, you can save yourself the uncertainty and minor benefits of a sign and enjoy complete freedom from liability. Because EQQO not only takes over your winter service, but also the liability for it. So you are always on the safe side with EQQO!
What to do with snow and ice?
If it snows for a long time, the snow can pile up into considerable heaps. When clearing snow and ice, the cleared snow and ice masses must be deposited in piles on the edges of the sidewalks or the areas to be cleared and must not be pushed onto the road. They must also not cover manhole covers, as this makes it more difficult for melt water to drain away.
What makes EQQO different?
EQQO attaches particular importance to the professional clearing of your commercial premises and the removal of snow and ice residues, which minimizes risks and rules out administrative offences. However, should something happen, EQQO is liable for you.
Frequently asked questions about the legal regulations
While municipalities and cities are responsible for clearing their roads, all private individuals and businesses are obliged to clear their own sidewalks or commercial and industrial areas, including parking lots, in such a way that pedestrians, visitors, customers and employees can safely drive on or enter these areas with reasonable care.
Protected from all legal consequences with EQQO
A breach of the duty to maintain road safety also entails the risk of accidents, which in turn can result in civil claims for damages. In serious cases, there may also be consequences under criminal law. In short: If employees, customers or third parties are injured due to a path that has not been cleared or gritted, the company can be held liable.
The winter road clearance regulations of your city or municipality will provide you with precise information on which gritting materials may be used. In the public areason which Residents’ duties must be performed is the use of Rock salt in principle only in certain situations permissible and in permitted in particularly hazardous areas. Auf private areas However, salt can be used according to your requirements.
You can therefore use mineral or renewable gritting granules as well as sand to improve the grip of the surface. However, these must be removed from the surfaces once the ice and snow have melted.
Further information can be found here.
Your winter service can be transferred to service providers – including your obligations and the liability risk. As a Germany-wide service provider for winter services, EQQO not only offers commercial customers professional, reliable and compliant implementation, EQQO also assumes liability for winter services.
So you can enjoy complete peace of mind in winter!
The normal season for winter maintenance is from November to March, but winter maintenance basically begins when the first icy or snowy conditions arise and ends when snow or icy conditions no longer fall or arise for the time being.
Further information on the exact times by which snow and slippery surfaces must be cleared on working days and Sundays and public holidays can also be found in the winter service regulations.
Snow clearance: when you should book a snow clearance service
If a customer or passer-by is injured on your premises due to a fall caused by snow or ice on your property, this person may take legal action, which can have legal and financial consequences for you. The plaintiff will usually claim compensation for pain and suffering or loss of earnings and you will be held liable for the damage caused.
With EQQO ‘s 100% assumption of liability, you don’t have to worry about this and are thus relieved of a major concern.
Read more about it here.
Neglecting the statutory winter maintenance obligation can result in high fines, the amount of which depends on the laws of the various federal states. In the event of damage or injuries caused as a result, there may also be legal consequences such as prison sentences.
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