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Holidays in the mountains: "Are winter tires compulsory to go to a ski resort?"

2021-10-16T05:21:38.306Z


LE FIGARO ANSWERS YOU - From November 1 until March 31, motorists will have to adapt their vehicle to mountain driving in half of the French departments.


I planned to go skiing in the Alps this winter.

Are snow tires mandatory?

Question from Nicolas (Seine-Maritime)

Dear Nicolas,

It will actually be necessary to equip your car with winter tires known as “snow tires” or to have chains to reach your winter sports resort. This obligation is part of the Mountain II law of December 28, 2016, published in the Official Journal on October 18, 2020. The measure concerns

48 departments

(complete list in the box below) located in mountain ranges (Alps). , Corsica, Massif Central, Jura massif, Pyrenees, Vosges massif) and now applies

every year from November 1 to March 31

. The authorities' objective: to limit accidents and traffic jams (in particular at the entrance to stations) which can be caused by inadequate equipment.

The prefects are gradually publishing the list of municipalities and roads where this obligation will apply.

The department of Isère, for example, published on October 13 the list of 162 municipalities concerned, recalls France Bleu.

For its part, the prefecture of Meurthe-et-Moselle, as well as that of Yonne, have announced that no municipality will ultimately be concerned.

Conversely, the prefect of Haute-Loire has decided that the measure will apply to all the municipalities of the department.

No verbalization this year

It will

be

necessary "

either to have in [his] trunk removable non-slip devices (metal or textile snow chains) allowing to equip at least two driving wheels, or to be equipped with four winter tires

", details the Road Safety website. These “snow tires” are identified by one of the “M + S”, “MS” or “M&S” markings or by the joint presence of one of these markings and the “alpine symbol” recognized under the name “ 3PMSF ”(3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake). These tires evacuate water and slush faster and improve grip and braking. You must equip yourself with it, even if you are a simple tourist passing through.

To avoid regular changes, it may also be beneficial to switch to so-called “four-season” tires, even if, faced with heavy snow or ice, the use of winter tires is strongly recommended. This can represent a certain investment, not necessarily profitable if you only use this equipment a few days a year. Are you looking for an alternative to the road? Note that some mountain resorts are easily accessible by train, or through the combination of train and seasonal shuttles.

The authorities want to show tolerance in this first season of law enforcement.

The Interior Ministry assured on October 4 that the lack of chains, snow tires or all-season tires will "not be penalized this winter".

But from November 1, 2022, offenders will risk a fine of 135 euros and the immobilization of the vehicle.

You have been warned ...

List of the 48 departments concerned by the Mountain II law:

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

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-10-16

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