The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Winter tire rules abroad: Motorists face high fines

2022-12-14T16:12:24.716Z


Winter tire rules abroad: Drivers should keep an eye on the profile and signs Created: 12/14/2022, 4:30 p.m By: Simon Mones Different countries, different regulations: Anyone who crosses German national borders by car and is driving with summer tires or insufficient tread must expect penalties. Christmas is also holiday time! It is now possible again to go on a winter holiday without major res


Winter tire rules abroad: Drivers should keep an eye on the profile and signs

Created: 12/14/2022, 4:30 p.m

By: Simon Mones

Different countries, different regulations: Anyone who crosses German national borders by car and is driving with summer tires or insufficient tread must expect penalties.

Christmas is also holiday time!

It is now possible again to go on a winter holiday without major restrictions.

Out of sheer anticipation, when traveling to other European countries, you should familiarize yourself in advance with the applicable winter tire regulations, which may differ from the German regulations.

Otherwise there is a risk of expensive tickets.

In Germany, the legislature stipulates in the Road Traffic Act (paragraph 2, paragraph 3a) that drivers may only drive on black ice, snow, slush, ice or frost "if all wheels are fitted with tires which, without prejudice to the general requirements of the Tires meet the requirements of Section 36 Paragraph 4 of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations.” There is therefore a situational obligation to use winter tires.

Much stricter rules apply in Austria than in Germany.

© ANP/Imago

Winter tire rules abroad: Drivers should keep an eye on the profile and signs

If you drive on wintry roads with summer tires, you risk a fine of at least 60 euros and a point in Flensburg.

Winter tires must have a tread depth of at least 1.6 millimeters and have the snowflake symbol on the tire sidewall.

Catalog of fines: what fines traffic offenders have to reckon with

View photo gallery

In other countries, the requirements for winter tires are sometimes significantly higher than in Germany, such as tread depth.

There are also countries with compulsory winter tires, in others it is more a situational situation like in this country.

To make it even more confusing, there are also local regulations.

The automobile clubs or the European Consumer Center Germany provide information about the relevant rules.

Winter tire rules abroad: Wrong tires are expensive in Austria

Here is an overview of a few popular travel destinations: In Austria, drivers must use winter or all-season tires in wintry road conditions between November 1st and April 15th.

The tires must have a minimum residual tread depth of 4 millimeters.

If all-season tires are fitted, they are only considered winter tires if they have the "M and S" identification with an additional snowflake symbol or only the snowflake symbol on the flank.

Anyone caught with summer tires in wintry road conditions can expect fines of up to 5,000 euros.

also read

After a jump start: That's how far you have to drive to charge the battery

Audi RS 3 quattro pulls heavy trucks out of the snow - and is celebrated online (with video)

In Switzerland, too, there is no general obligation to have winter tyres.

But the legislator stipulates that a driver must be in control of his vehicle at all times and that he must fulfill his "duties of precaution".

This means, among other things, that he has to equip his vehicle according to the weather conditions.

Motorists are therefore threatened with fines if they obstruct traffic on snow-covered roads with unsuitable tires or are involved in an accident.

Anyone who does not meet the minimum requirement for tread depth of 1.6 millimeters pays a fine of 100 francs (approx. 90 euros).

Winter tire rules abroad: Regional regulations in Italy

Anyone crossing the border into Italy should pay attention to the road signs.

Since there is no nationwide binding regulation on winter tires, the provinces decide for themselves which regulations apply.

The appropriate tires are communicated by means of traffic signs.

You can find even more exciting car topics in the free newsletter from our partner 24auto.de.

But there are still fixed rules.

In South Tyrol, winter tires are mandatory in wintry conditions.

Winter tires are mandatory on the A22 Brenner motorway from November 15th to April 15th.

Anyone who wants to drive to the Aosta Valley must have winter tires on from October 15th and also until April 15th.

According to the ADAC, the fines that are due for disregarding the regulations can be up to 345 euros.

Winter tire rules abroad: Mandatory in France – at least in part

Since November 2021, winter tires have been compulsory in France under certain conditions until the end of March of the following year.

The regulation applies to mountain regions such as the Alps, the Massif Central and the Vosges as well as Corsica.

In addition, winter tires can be made compulsory for other areas by putting up appropriate signs.

The tires must have a minimum tread depth of 3.6 millimeters.

Anyone who violates the regulations must expect fines of up to 135 euros.

The authorities can also prohibit further travel.

You should also have snow chains on board when entering our neighboring countries.

Their use can also be ordered by signage.

It is helpful to practice assembly in a warm garage or in a wind-protected carport so that the movements are correct in an emergency.

For cold outdoor use, gloves, knee pads, high-visibility vests, hand brushes and a flashlight should also be stowed within easy reach.

(Elfriede Munsch/SP-X)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-12-14

You may like

News/Politics 2024-03-27T14:25:52.630Z
News/Politics 2024-02-04T15:21:16.852Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.