Planning a winter highway journey to France with a automotive, motorhome, campervan or caravan? Involved in regards to the French winter tyre regulation and should you comply? Right here’s every part you’ll want to know.
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The France winter obligatory gear regulation (usually name the French tyre regulation)
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 car 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 every year, no matter climate situations.
Nevertheless, it’s a Mountain Regulation (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 regulation, because it doesn’t have an effect on these areas.
You could find a map under which reveals the areas.
What’s the level of the French winter tyre regulation?
The French wished to “scale back highway congestion in mountainous areas and enhance highway security” when driving on snowy or icy roads.
Annually, unequipped automobiles block roads and trigger accidents on their winter highway journeys and so they wish to scale back these.
Earlier than 01 November 2021, you solely wanted winter tyres/ chains when roads marked « B26 necessary particular gear » have been truly 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 situations.
The place are the affected areas?
The affected departments embrace:
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 web site and reveals all of the departments the place at the very least one highway is included within the regulation.
How are you aware which roads are affected in France?
Indicators will let you know once you’re about to enter a winter obligatory gear space. The dates which you should adjust to are 01 November and 31 March every year- you’ll be able to ignore the indicators at different occasions.
One signal reveals you the place the obligatory space begins, and one the place it finishes:
What do you’ll want to adjust to the France winter regulation?
If driving or motorhoming in France one on of the necessary roads in one of many affected areas between 01 November and 31 March every year, these are the foundations you should adjust to:
- all 4+ wheeled automobiles with out a trailer should have winter or 4-season tyres fitted and/or have non-slip snow chains or ‘socks’ mounted on the car (or at minimal current within the car)
- Heavy automobiles with out a trailer can select between winter tyres or chains.
- If in case you have a trailer, you should 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” might 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 attainable, however on this case, customers may also must have chains to drive from 1 November to 31 March within the areas involved by the measure.
Winter tyres should be mounted on at the very least two steered wheels and at the very least two driving wheels. If the car has a number of steered axles, these are the steered wheels of the primary steering system
4-season/ all season tyres are legitimate so long as they’re stamped “3PMSF” (or at the very least “M + S” till November 2024)
Learn the official wording right here.
For those who don’t have winter tyres fitted, you should:
- carry snow chains or socks for at the very least two driving wheels – keep in mind, you’ll want to get snow chains which are proper in your tyres/wheels. Not all snow chains are the identical measurement!
OR
If you’re a heavy car or have a trailer
Heavy automobiles with out trailers (I’d recommend a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes counts as a heavy car) can select between chains or winter tyres.
Heavy items automobiles with trailers might be required to hold snow chains for at the very least two driving wheels, even when they’re outfitted with winter tyres.
RELATED POST: Methods to plan a winter motorhome journey & dwell in a van throughout 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 regulation.
Nevertheless, they aren’t as strong as chains and are designed for brief journeys, not a number of journey in snow, so should you’re planning on doing a protracted journey or a number of brief ones, get chains.
No matter you select, be sure to apply becoming them in advance- we unintentionally order the flawed measurement chains and didn’t realise till we have been within the mountains. Fortunately, it was all effective however may have been an enormous mistake.
Does the regulation apply to bikes?
The regulation solely applies to 4 wheeled automobiles, so it appears bikes are exempt (however, actually, do you wish to journey a motorbike in snowy situations with out correct tyres??!)
Is it regulation to have winter tyres in France?
In a phrase, no. For those who carry chains or snow socks, you’re coated by way of the regulation. However should you’re planning to take a motorhome snowboarding 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 outfitted 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 necessary with out complying with the above, it’s possible you’ll be stopped by the authorities and fined €135. You might also not be capable to proceed your journey and the car immobilised.
B26 visitors signal
The B26 visitors signal (the one displaying snow chains) will proceed to imply that you should WEAR (not simply carry) chains on these roads when snow is on the bottom, even outdoors the winter interval. These are clearly marked on the roads and there might be an space of chainage so that you can pull in and match chains if wanted.
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