The long-awaited extra-long weekend of May arrives and many are preparing to start a tourist getaway with their own vehicle. Among them a part of the million beneficiaries of the Previaje 4 plan, who made reservations to tour the country on this date.
Traffic controls, as usual, will be strengthened. And to avoid fines and delays, it is key to check prior to departure that we are meeting the multiple requirements to circulate.
It is, on the one hand, to have all the documentation up to date, both of the vehicle and of who drives. And on the other hand, that the car does not lack any of the mandatory identification and security elements.
As a novelty, in addition, the requirement of driving with zero alcohol in blood that was already imposed in "half the country" continued to be expanded.
Next, point by point, an updated list with everything a motorist should have on board, comply with and review to avoid penalties and mishaps.
Police and traffic officers stop vehicles randomly, and if something important is missing there can be problems. Photo: PBA Transport.
What is the documentation required to drive around the country?
The National Road Safety Agency (ANSV) recalls what is the mandatory documentation to travel throughout Argentina, according to current regulations:
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Valid National Driver's License in physical version. With the digital alone it is not enough: you can be fined as if you were driving without registration.
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National Identity Document (DNI). In this case, the digital DNI is accepted as an alternative to the card copy.
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Vehicle identification card. The "green" or the "blue" as appropriate, and in the first case considering the expiration.
-Proof of insurance in force.
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Proof of VTV or RTO up to date (Mandatory Technical Review), in the provinces where it is mandatory.
-Proof of payment of the tax on the filing of the vehicle (patent). It is not common to control it, but the authorities still indicate having it.
What elements is mandatory to have in the car so that it is in road condition?
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Legible, standardized patents without additions.
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Triangular and reflective portable beacons.
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Fire extinguisher of 1 kilo with its current load, fixed and within reach of the driver.
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Seat belts. One for each occupant and always in use.
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Rearview mirrors. One on each side of the vehicle.
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Child seats. If you are travelling with infants and children up to 10 years old, they must be in the special approved seats known as Child Restraint Systems (CRS).
Child car seats should be appropriate for their weight and age.
What else is suggested to have on board to be able to face an emergency?
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Spare wheel. Before leaving, check that it is well inflated to the pressure indicated in the manual.
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Crique or hydraulic jack.
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Adjustment key.
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Reflective vest.
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First aid kit with the basics.
In addition to this, there are low-cost tire repair kits that seal punctures instantly and allow you to continue on the road in a few minutes in a very practical way.
Where does "zero alcohol" at the wheel now apply?
Since January 2023, the Province of Buenos Aires imposed by law the zero tolerance of alcohol in blood for all drivers, replacing the limit of 0.5 gram per liter of blood that applied before.
Buenos Aires thus joined the list of provinces that now require throughout their territory not to have drunk even a sip before driving, and that punish violators with fines, license retention and other sanctions.
The other 12 provinces that already have similar rules are Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Río Negro, Salta, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego and Tucumán. Also more than 50 municipalities throughout the country.
Thirteen provinces have their own zero-alcohol driving laws, and there is now a national standard. Photo: ANSV.
Finally, in April 2023, a national zero alcohol law was approved in Congress, which has already entered into force.
Although there are provinces that do not plan to join -such as Mendoza, San Juan or the City of Buenos Aires-, the ANSV warned that it will enforce the rule on national routes throughout the country, with the support of federal security forces.
MDG
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