If it’s too big, it’ll be expensive

Now it’s time to buy a Christmas tree. Sometimes the seller is just around the corner. Then a small tree can be easily moved into the house. But if it has to be an XL fir tree, the car has to be there. But loading is often reckless and risky: a piece of string is tied to the ceiling, quickly thrown into the trunk unsecured – or the passenger grabs the softwood through the open window. I’ve already seen everything.

Christmas Bullet

Carrying it so haphazardly saves time in the wrong place. As careless shipping can have fatal consequences, as the Christmas tree crash test by the German shipping club ADAC has shown. Or did you know that a human-sized Christmas tree weighing about 30 kilograms is thrown forward at 50 km/h with 25 times the acceleration of gravity and turned into a 750-pound powerful bullet at an emergency stop?

it must be a lot of time

To prevent this from happening and not to unduly endanger yourself and other road users on Christmas Eve, you must carefully secure the tree: first check the permissible roof load in the vehicle documentation. Be sure to attach the tied tree to a car roof rack with sturdy tension belts. Packing thread or rubber expanders are not suitable for this. The position on the carriage is also important: nothing should protrude beyond the vehicle. Anything that protrudes one meter from the rear of the vehicle must be marked with a fold mark or cone.

Just a piece of red cloth or something similar is not allowed. And: Measured from the center of the steering wheel, protruding items on the roof can protrude up to three meters. Transport goods protruding backwards can protrude a maximum of five meters backwards when measured from the center of the rear axle. If you get caught in a giant fir tree standing too high without a safety device, you risk getting a fine or even a fine. Because: According to article 30 of the Swiss Road Traffic Act (SGV), a load must be tied in such a way that it does not endanger anyone and does not fall.

Also safe in the car

It is best to fix the tree to the trunk with a luggage net, and also to tie it with the tension belts in the trunk. Fold down the rear seat backrests so that the Christmas tree is seated as fully as possible. If the tree is protruding from the trunk, connect the tailgate to the lock and also mark the tree with a cone or fold mark. That way others can see it protruding from behind. However: The plate must still be visible, otherwise a fine of 60 francs will be issued.