Since June 2020, and in close alignment with the Mountain Law, Europe has adopted a new standard for snow chains. If you’re traveling abroad this winter, you’ll need to make sure you comply with the regulations in effect in each European country.
MOUNTAIN LAW AND STANDARD EN 16662-1
The Mountain Law, or Decree No. 2020-126 (Mountain Law Article), requires road users to equip their vehicles with winter tires and/or anti-skid devices for the winter of 2021.
The government will enforce this measure, which aims to protect drivers, in high-risk mountainous areas from November 1 through March 31 each year. Furthermore, the type of vehicle used affects the specific requirements under this law.
Consequently, Europe has established the EN 16662-1 standard to standardize practices and ensure everyone’s safety.
This standard replaces the previous national standards (the French standard NFDXPR12-781. the Italian standard UNI 11313, and the Austrian standard ONorm V5117) and sets out the country-specific rules for the use of winter tires and snow chains.
To be approved and used, removable anti-skid devices (SGD*) must pass the performance tests specified by the standard, whether they are metal, textile, or hybrid chains.*SGD
= Supplementary Grip Device
THE STATE OF EUROPE IN JANUARY 2021
The countries in question had until November 2020 to publish the standard and update their regulatory framework. However, as of January 30, 2021, some countries had not met this deadline. Among those lagging behind are Spain, Hungary, and North Macedonia.
All other countries have published the standard. However, some must also amend their traffic laws, notably France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. Currently, only Austria has implemented all of these changes.
As noted earlier, not all European countries have the same requirements regarding winter equipment. For example, Germany and Austria require the use of winter tires and snow chains throughout the entire country, unlike France or Italy, where these requirements vary by region. In Spain and Poland, snow chains are mandatory, while winter tires remain optional but permitted. Conversely, Iceland and Sweden require winter tires and only permit removable anti-skid devices.
See our detailed fact sheet on "European Standards."
