For an entire winter, drivers at Taxi Romerike used Onspot automatic snow chains for light vehicles as part of their daily work. Their experiences show what extra traction can mean when icy roads and slippery hills become part of the working day.
For a taxi driver, an icy road or slippery hill can quickly affect the entire working day. Getting stuck does not just mean a delay for the driver. The passenger may also arrive late, and the next journey can be affected. Last winter, four drivers at Taxi Romerike used Onspot Electric in their daily work for the first time. After a winter on the road, they could reflect on what having extra traction available had actually meant for them.
"Driving a taxi in winter conditions is demanding. When the road suddenly becomes slippery, it is a major advantage to have something that can be activated immediately," says Turi Kaspersen at Taxi Romerike.
When winter road conditions become part of the working day
For Taxi Romerike's drivers, mobility is about being able to do their job and get passengers where they need to go. If the vehicle gets stuck, the consequences can quickly extend beyond a single journey. "If you get stuck, the consequence is that you arrive late for your customers. That also means the customers don't get where they need to be on time," says taxi driver Stian Buvik.
Throughout the winter, the drivers used Onspot Electric when they encountered icy roads and slippery hills. The system is activated directly from the driver's seat and provides extra traction without the driver having to stop, leave the vehicle and fit traditional snow chains.
"Onspot is very easy to use. You simply press the button for one second to activate or deactivate it, all while you continue driving," says Turi Kaspersen.
For the drivers, it became a way to handle situations that might otherwise bring the working day to a stop. Stian Buvik describes his first winter with the system: "I've been able to get through places where I normally wouldn't have been able to. It has definitely been a great help."
Keeping the working day moving
Getting through is also about staying on schedule and being able to take the next journey. For a taxi company, a vehicle that gets stuck can mean both missed jobs and lost revenue.
"If we can't reach our customers, we lose jobs and revenue. That's why it's important to have a tool that allows us to keep driving," says Turi Kaspersen.
After their first winter with Onspot, it is the drivers' experiences that matter most. The right winter tyres, an appropriate speed and safe driving are always the foundation. But when the road becomes icy or a slippery hill makes it difficult to continue, extra traction can help the driver keep moving, reach the passenger and keep the working day on track.
The drivers share their experiences
How did automatic snow chains for light vehicles work in the drivers' everyday work?
In the interview, Taxi Romerike's drivers talk about winter driving, the challenges of slippery roads and their experience of having extra traction available when they needed it.