Planning a street journey to France with a automobile, motorhome, campervan or caravan? Involved concerning the French winter tyre regulation and if you happen to comply? Right here’s the whole lot it’s good to know.
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The brand new France winter obligatory gear regulation (typically name the French tyre regulation)
On 01 November 2021, a brand new Frence winter regulation got here into impact, stating a authorized requirement to both have winter tyres fitted or to hold/ put on snow chains the place directed.
This has been inflicting uproar in some Fb teams and boards, with folks both for or towards the brand new regulation.
From 01 November 2021, 48 departments situated in or close to the French mountains (Alps, Corsica, Massif Central, Massif Jurassien, Pyrenees, Massif Vosges) now have roads/ areas the place you have to have winter tyres fitted or carry snow chains/ socks earlier than driving on one of many regulated roads, no matter climate circumstances.
What’s the level of the brand new regulation?
The French need to “scale back street congestion in mountainous areas and enhance street security” when driving on snowy or icy roads.
Annually, unequipped automobiles block roads and trigger accidents and so they need to scale back these.
Earlier than 01 November 2021, you solely wanted winter tyres/ chains when roads marked « B26 obligatory particular gear » had been truly lined with snow. Now, you’ll want tyres fitted or to hold chains if you happen to’re planning to drive down an affected street, no matter present climate circumstances.
The place are the affected areas?
The affected departments are (presently):
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.
Nonetheless, it’s doesn’t essentially imply each street in each division is covered- the native council and prefecture decide which roads and areas are affected. This map is taken from the France Authorities web site.
How have you learnt which roads are affected?
New indicators will let you know if you’re about to enter a obligatory gear space. Once more, it’s solely obligatory between 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 it’s good to adjust to the France winter regulation?
If motorhoming in France or driving in one of many affected areas between 01 November and 31 March every year, AND if you happen to’re on a street which is marked as obligatory, it’s essential to:
- have winter tyres (marked with “3PMSF” (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake), the “alpine image” marking and both “ MS ”or“ M&S ”) mounted on at the least two steered wheels and at the least 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 don’t depend except they’re stamped “3PMSF”, or at the least “M + S”
Till November 1, 2024, tyres solely marked “M + S” can be tolerated.
OR
- carry snow chains or socks for at the least two driving wheels
OR
In case you are a heavy automobile or have a trailer
Heavy automobiles with out trailers (I’d recommend a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes counts as a heavy automobile) can select between chains or winter tyres.
Heavy items automobiles with trailers can be required to hold snow chains for at the least two driving wheels, even when they’re outfitted with winter tyres.
RELATED POST: Find out how 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 regulation.
Nonetheless, they aren’t as strong as chains and are designed for brief journeys, not numerous journey in snow, so if you happen to’re planning on doing an extended journey or a number of quick ones, get chains.
No matter you select, be sure to apply becoming them in advance- we by accident order the unsuitable dimension chains and didn’t realise till we had been within the mountains. Fortunately, it was all tremendous however might have been a giant mistake.
Does the regulation apply to bikes?
The regulation solely applies to 4 wheeled automobiles, so it appears bikes are exempt (however, truthfully, do you need to trip a motorbike in snowy circumstances with out correct tyres??!)
Is it regulation to have winter tyres in France?
In a phrase, no. When you carry chains or snow socks, you’re lined when it comes to the regulation. However, truthfully, if you happen to’re planning to take a motorhome snowboarding or into mountainous areas throughout winter, get winter or on the very least all-season tyres fitted and carry chains or socks as well as.
Higher secure than sorry!
What if I’m not outfitted correctly?
In case you are wintering down in Spain or ‘popping by the Alps’ and drive by an space the place winter tyres or snow chains are obligatory with out complying with the above, you could be stopped by the authorities and fined €135. You might also not be capable of proceed your journey.
B26 site visitors signal
The B26 site visitors signal (the one exhibiting snow chains) will proceed to imply that it’s essential to 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 can be an space of chainage so that you can pull in and match chains if wanted.
NOTE: The French Authorities clearly say right here that there can be no fines for breaching this regulation within the first yr (so up till March 2022). I’ve no clue why, however there it’s!
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