Free road salt for everyone: How to stay safe on the road in winter!

Free road salt for everyone: How to stay safe on the road in winter!

Winter is just around the corner, and with it the obligations for residents who are responsible for clearing and gritting. The municipality of Aufhausen has created clear guidelines and offers that help fulfill these obligations. As the municipality explains in its announcement, residents are responsible during the winter months for clearing snow from sidewalks or a strip at least one meter wide on the edge of the road and for sprinkling it accordingly when it is slippery. The municipality also offers free road salt in normal household quantities.

The road salt will be dropped off on certain dates: November 29, 2025, December 13, 2025 and January 10, 2026. On these dates, citizens can collect the road salt from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. during the recycling center's opening hours. A community employee will provide active support with the drop-off.

Duties and responsibilities

The ADAC points out that municipalities in urban areas are responsible for winter road maintenance. In particular, dangerous areas such as thoroughfares, pedestrian paths and public parking lots must be cleared and gritted. Outside urban areas, responsibility only lies in particularly dangerous places. Inspections usually begin at around 5 a.m., although the clearing and gritting obligation should generally be completed between 6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Property owners are obliged to avoid dangers caused by black ice and snow, as they can be held responsible in the event of damage. The craft paper also confirms this. A striking ruling by the Münster District Court shows that landlords cannot simply pass on the costs of winter service to tenants if they are responsible for them in the rental agreement.

Liability and legal aspects

Interestingly, case law suggests that the obligation to clear and scatter can vary depending on local conditions. A ruling by the Berlin Court of Appeal confirms that even small areas of black ice require clearing and gritting. The individual case plays a decisive role here, as various judgments show. According to a ruling, the city of Bremen is 70 percent liable for damage caused by black ice on important roads.

The snow disposal regulations state that there is no legal requirement as to where the snow must be taken after it has been shoveled. Municipalities recommend moving the snow onto your own property. In exceptional cases, snow may be shoveled to the side of the road as long as it does not obstruct the view of road users. Driveways and parking spaces must also be kept clear of snow, as the ADAC emphasizes.

Winter service also means that citizens should ensure that parking spaces, especially in supermarket areas, are accessible, even if the entire parking lot does not have to be cleared. There is a liability risk for property owners if falls occur due to poorly cleared paths, which can lead to claims for damages.

Given the approaching winter months, it is of great importance for citizens to be aware of these regulations and obligations in order to ensure both their safety and that of other road users. Comprehensive information on this can be found in the announcements from the municipality of Aufhausen as well as the corresponding legal bases on the ADAC and Handwerksblatt websites.

Aufhausen community provides information about grit for private households.
ADAC provides legal insights into winter service.
Craft sheet explains the obligation to clear and scatter.