The odyssey surrounding mandatory snow tires or snow chains on board during the winter season finally seems to have come to an end thanks to a directive from the Ministry of Transport. In the spring of 2013, the Ministry issued a directive that effectively unifies the hundreds of local ordinances that in past winters drove motorists across Italy crazy.
It is finally established that on all non-urban road stretches, motor vehicles (excluding two-wheeled mopeds and motorcycles) must drive equipped with winter tires or snow chains.
As for mopeds and motorcycles, they are not permitted to circulate when ice or snow is present on the road. Those who opt for winter tires should remember that the regulation requires them to be fitted on all 4 wheels.
Quoting the directive itself, in order to standardize the various ordinances it has been decided that the mandatory period runs from November 15 to April 15.
The document is crystal clear: from November 15 to April 15, it will be mandatory to have winter tires fitted or snow chains on board in order to drive on Italian roads (those frequently affected by snow or ice and marked with the appropriate road signs)—a clear-cut rule that sweeps away all the confusion caused by the differing provincial ordinances in force up until last winter.
The Ministry allows for possible variations by local authorities, though not such as to shorten the reference time frame, and the directive applies nationwide.
The flip side of the coin
While this clarity is a welcome help to motorists, it should be noted that the newly achieved uniformity extends the mandatory period for chains or winter tires beyond what some Provinces previously required. In certain parts of Italy this could cause some inconvenience, especially since the ordinance takes effect as early as November 15 and runs until mid-April.
Fines
Anyone who fails to comply with the new ordinance will be subject to citations and penalties: specifically, fines range from €80 to €318, and drivers also risk losing up to 3 points on their driver’s license. It is well worth keeping a set of snow chains in the trunk rather than taking the risk.
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