Safe for the holidays: How to transport your Christmas tree correctly!

The pre-Christmas season has begun and around 2.5 million Christmas trees are available for sale in Austria to put the living room at home in a festive mood. But transporting these magnificent plants is not without risks. The ÖAMTC warns that Christmas trees must be transported safely as cargo. An inadequately secured tree can pose significant risks to the driver and other road users. Violations face penalties of up to 10,000 euros, according to lawyer Verena Pronebner.

Many people transport their Christmas tree in their own car, but it is important to follow a few rules. To securely attach the tree to the roof, it should remain in a net and secured to the luggage rack with strong fabric straps. The Association of Natural Christmas Trees e.V. emphasizes that if the tree protrudes by more than one meter, it must be marked as a long haul. If you transport the tree in the trunk, you should use it with the back seat folded down and make sure that the driver's view is not impaired naturkindmagazin.de reported.

Important transport tips

A few simple but crucial tips can help ensure the tree comes home unscathed. For example, the association advises having the tree packaged in a protective net when sold to minimize its susceptibility to wind and make handling easier. If you want to transport the tree by bike, you should use a cargo bike or a trailer and make sure that the tree is adequately secured. When it comes to bicycles, guidelines must also be observed, such as the maximum width of the tree, which is 40 centimeters, to ensure safety on the road.

In summary, safe transport of the Christmas tree is essential. Whether on the roof rack or in the trunk, every tree driver should find out about the applicable regulations in advance and take measures to secure the load so as not to endanger themselves or others. A better understanding of these rules will benefit not only drivers but also other road users.