With the bad weather in recent weeks, winter promises to be difficult in France. Several dozen departments in France are affected by the Mountain law, which requires motorists to respect certain conditions when driving.
Driving in winter can sometimes be very dangerous, particularly on certain roads in France where it is very cold and roads are covered in snow or ice. Since November 1, the Mountain law has come into force in 34 departments of France (note that several departments of Occitanie are among the 34). We remind you of the conditions to respect.
Which areas?
The Mountain law came into force on 1is November 2021, notes the Road Safety website. This makes “obligatory to equip your vehicle with winter tires or to have snow chains or socks, from 1is November 2024 to March 31, 2025, in certain mountainous areas”.
Here is the list of the 34 departments concerned: Ain (01), Allier (03), Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Ardèche (07), Ariège (09), Hear (11), Aveyron (12)Cantal (15), Doubs (25), Drôme (26), Haute-Garonne (31)Isère (38), Jura (39), Loire (42), Haute-Loire (43), Lozère (48)Moselle (57), Puy-de-Dôme (63), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64), Hautes-Pyrénées (65), Pyrénées-Orientales (66)Bas-Rhin (67), Haut-Rhin (68), Rhône (69), Haute-Saône (70), Savoie (73), Haute-Savoie (74), Tarn (81)Var (83), Vaucluse (84), Vosges (88) and Territoire de Belfort (90).
Equipment and vehicles
Which vehicles are affected? Here again, Road Safety is very clear. “All vehicles with four wheels and more are affected by this obligation: light vehicles, utility vehicles, motorhomes, coaches, buses and heavy goods vehicles”she writes.
Motorists therefore have several options to comply with the Mountain Law. Equip yourself with four winter tires, also called snow tires, with the markings “M + S”, “MS”, “M & S” or the “Alpine symbol” (recognized under the name “3PMSF” – 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake).
Or to have so-called removable equipment in the trunk of your vehicle, such as chains (which are very effective), or socks (much easier to install) for at least two drive wheels.
Small precision
“From November 1, 2024, tires bearing the M + S (Mud + Snow) marking alone will no longer be accepted by the Mountain Law, during the winter period (November 1 to March 31) and in the mountainous areas concerned”indicates the Road Safety website.
“Only 3PMSF tires will be accepted as equivalent to the chains. The purchase and use of other 'snow tires' will remain possible, but in this case users must also have chains to travel from November 1 to March 31 in the areas concerned by the obligation”we can read.
In the event of non-compliance with these obligations, each motorist is exposed to a 4th class fine, i.e. in the amount of 135 euros.
Related News :