Winter Tyres France- Are you Breaking the Legislation?

Planning a winter highway journey to France with a automobile, motorhome, campervan or caravan? Involved in regards to the French winter tyre legislation and should you comply? Right here’s all the pieces you must know.

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The France winter obligatory tools legislation (usually name the French tyre legislation)

Since 01 November 2021, it has been a authorized requirement in lots of areas in France to both:

• have correct winter tyres fitted to your automobile or
• to hold and put on snow chains or snow socks the place directed.

The dates for this are between 01 November and 31 March annually, no matter climate circumstances.

Nevertheless, it’s a Mountain Legislation (Loi Montagn) and solely applies in 48 departments positioned in or close to the French mountains (Alps, Massif Central, Massif Jurassien, Pyrenees, Massif Vosges)- so should you’re staying within the north of France in locations like Brittany or Bordeaux, you don’t want to fret about complying with the legislation, because it doesn’t have an effect on these areas.

You’ll find a map under which exhibits the areas.

What’s the level of the French winter tyre legislation?

The French needed to “scale back highway congestion in mountainous areas and enhance highway security” when driving on snowy or icy roads.

Annually, unequipped autos block roads and trigger accidents on their winter road trips they usually wish to scale back these.

Earlier than 01 November 2021, you solely wanted winter tyres/ chains when roads marked « B26 obligatory particular tools » had been really coated with snow.

Now, you’ll want tyres fitted or to hold chains/ socks should you’re winter motorhoming and planning to drive down an affected highway, no matter present climate circumstances.

The place are the affected areas?

The affected departments embody:

Ain, Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Ariège, Aude, Aveyron, Cantal, Corrèze, Côte-d’Or, Creuse, Doubs, Drôme, Gard, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, l’Isère, Jura, Loire, Haute-Loire, Lot, Lozère, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, la Nièvre, Puy-de-Dôme, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Pyrénées-Orientales, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Rhône, Haute-Saône, Saône-et-Loire, la Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Var, Vaucluse, Haute-Vienne, Vosges, l’Yonne, and Territoire de Belfort.

Nevertheless, it’s doesn’t essentially imply each highway in each division is covered- the native council and prefecture decide which roads and areas are affected.

This map is taken from the French Connexion website and exhibits all of the departments the place a minimum of one highway is included within the legislation.

How are you aware which roads are affected in France?

Indicators will let you know if you’re about to enter a winter obligatory tools space. The dates which you need to adjust to are 01 November and 31 March every year- you may ignore the indicators at different instances.

One signal exhibits you the place the obligatory space begins, and one the place it finishes:

What do you must adjust to the France winter legislation?

If driving or motorhoming in France one on of the obligatory roads in one of many affected areas between 01 November and 31 March annually, these are the foundations you need to adjust to:

• all 4+ wheeled autos with no trailer will need to have winter or 4-season tyres fitted and/or have non-slip snow chains or ‘socks’ mounted on the automobile (or at minimal current within the automobile)
• Heavy autos with no trailer can select between winter tyres or chains.
• If in case you have a trailer, you need to have winter tyres fitted AND snow chains fitted on two driving wheels

Winter Tyres France- what’s wanted?

Winter tyres have particular markings on them.

Till November 1, 2024, tyres solely marked “M + S” can be tolerated.

On and after 01 November 2024, tyres will must be marked with “3PMSF” (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake) and one of many “ M+” markings. S ” , “ MS ” or “ M&S ”. The acquisition and use of different “snow tyres” will stay potential, however on this case, customers may also should have chains to drive from 1 November to 31 March within the areas involved by the measure.

Winter tyres have to be mounted on a minimum of two steered wheels and a minimum of two driving wheels. If the automobile has a number of steered axles, these are the steered wheels of the principle steering system

4-season/ all season tyres are legitimate so long as they’re stamped “3PMSF” (or a minimum of “M + S” till November 2024)

Learn the official wording here.

When you don’t have winter tyres fitted, you need to:

• carry snow chains or socks for a minimum of two driving wheels – bear in mind, you must get snow chains which can be proper in your tyres/wheels. Not all snow chains are the identical dimension!

OR

If you’re a heavy automobile or have a trailer

Heavy autos with out trailers (I’d counsel a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes counts as a heavy automobile) can select between chains or winter tyres.

Heavy items autos with trailers can be required to hold snow chains for a minimum of two driving wheels, even when they’re geared up with winter tyres.

RELATED POST: How to plan a winter motorhome trip & live in a van during winter

Are snow socks allowed in France?

Snow socks are undeniably cheaper, simpler to suit and use, to not point out higher in your motorhome payload! And sure, they’re allowed beneath the French winter legislation.

Nevertheless, they aren’t as strong as chains and are designed for brief journeys, not a lot of journey in snow, so should you’re planning on doing an extended journey or a number of brief ones, get chains.

No matter you select, be sure you apply becoming them in advance- we unintentionally order the improper dimension chains and didn’t realise till we had been within the mountains. Fortunately, it was all effective however may have been an enormous mistake.

Does the legislation apply to bikes?

The legislation solely applies to 4 wheeled autos, so it appears bikes are exempt (however, truthfully, do you wish to experience a bike in snowy circumstances with out correct tyres??!)

Is it legislation to have winter tyres in France?

In a phrase, no. When you carry chains or snow socks, you’re coated by way of the legislation. However should you’re planning to take a motorhome skiing or journey into mountainous areas throughout winter, I like to recommend you get winter or on the very least all-season tyres fitted and carry chains or socks as well as.

Higher protected than sorry!

What if I’m not geared up correctly?

If you’re wintering down in Spain or ‘popping by means of the Alps’ and drive by means of an space the place winter tyres or snow chains are obligatory with out complying with the above, chances are you’ll be stopped by the authorities and fined €135. You might also not have the ability to proceed your journey and the automobile immobilised.

B26 site visitors signal

The B26 site visitors signal (the one displaying snow chains) will proceed to imply that you need to WEAR (not simply carry) chains on these roads when snow is on the bottom, even exterior the winter interval. These are clearly marked on the roads and there can be an space of chainage so that you can pull in and match chains if wanted.

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