Mandatory snow chains on board or winter tires come into effect in the Aosta Valley

Although temperatures in recent days have been slightly above average and snow has made an appearance only above 2,700 m of altitude, the requirement to carry snow chains on board or fit winter tires has already come into effect for motorists traveling along state highways in the Aosta Valley.

Here is the official notice from the ANAS website:

ANAS announces that from October 15, 2014 until April 15, 2015, for all motor vehicles—excluding two-wheeled mopeds and motorcycles—it will be mandatory to carry snow chains on board or use winter (snow) tires on all state highways managed by the Aosta Valley Road Department that are normally exposed to the risk of snowfall or ice formation during the winter season. Specifically, the affected sections are: State Highway 26 ‘della Valle d`Aosta’, from km 48.250 (Pont St. Martin) to km 156.360 (La Thuile); State Highway 26 DIR `della Valle d`Aosta`, from km 0 (Pré-Saint-Didier) to km 9.580 (Courmayeur); State Highway 27 `del Gran San Bernardo`, from km 4.200 (Aosta) to km 33.910 (Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses); and State Highway 27 `Variante di Gignod`, from km 0 to km 2.187. The requirement will be indicated by specific vertical road signs and will also apply outside the specified dates in the event of snowfall or ice formation. The ordinance is issued in compliance with current traffic regulations (Highway Code).

The Aosta Valley region is the first to introduce mandatory snow chains on board; in many other regions, ordinances will take effect on November 15 and likewise end on April 15.
As we have reported in the past, violating these regulations can result in hefty fines, so it is best to equip your vehicle with snow chains or winter tires even if winter has not officially arrived yet.