Do I really need snow chains?

villabadger

Hi All,

Within the next 2 weeks I need to drive from the Channel Tunnel, through France and Belgium to Amsterdam. From what I've read, it appears that it is compulsory to carry snow chains in France at this time of year. I'll be driving on main roads and motorway and will only be in France for a couple of hours. Does everyone really carry snow chains? What's the risk if I don't have them?

Any views welcome.

Thanks

nickcc

Many years ago we toured Europe in our car and caravan. When we reached the Gotthard pass we saw signs for snow chains, being as it was mid June we presumed that the signs had not yet been removed from the Spring, what a stupid mistake to make. How we made it up,and down I'll never know, my advice would be, take some chains.

force_ten

can you find anywhere that it categorically states that it is compulsory or mandatory to carry snow chains in the whole of france?


my take on this is if you are going to the ski resorts or up into the mountains then you need chains and if the signs go up then you need to pull over and fit your chains

the RAC say

Specific countries where snow chains must be carried and used where signs dictate in mountainous regions include: France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Austria and Andorra.

The use of snow chains is taken very seriously in relevant countries, with heavy fines potentially issued for failing to carry them. In addition, if your vehicle is involved in an incident where snow chains should have been used, it is automatically considered to be your fault.

why not pop into a couple of lidl stores where you live and see if they have any chains left, they were selling them in january around here for £20.00 a pair which if you can get them it is a small price to pay to stay on the right side of the gendarmes

Max_Admin

or gumtree, preloved, ebid or ebay ?

AdrianC

No, you don't need chains - there aren't that many mountains in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, and it's only where signs dictate, in mountainous areas, that winter tyres and/or chains are required.

Tobster86

Second the Lidl snowchains.

They're not too bad actually.

On one of the two occasions that living in Yorkshire justified them, they made my old Audi 80 capable of climbing a hill that a summer-tyred (but four wheel drive) Suzuki Vitara was unable to.

The other time I was able to escape work when no one else could, but then had a very terrifying encounter with five miles of cleared dual carriageway and no hard shoulder at rush hour!

No longer own any due to living in Worcestershire and owning a car that would probably rip them to pieces at the slightest touch of the throttle.

Gloomendoom

This has to be a wind up.

villabadger

Thanks for your replies.

I haven't driven over there before and didn't want to end up with a fine because I wasn't carrying the correct kit! Don't want to cough up for some chains for the sake of a couple of hours. I will have a look in Lidl though - cheers

Iceweasel

To drive from Calais in France through Belgium to Amsterdam in the Netherlands you will legally need to carry the same chains as you legally need to carry in order to drive from anywhere in the UK to Folkstone to enter the Channel Tunnel.

force_ten

Iceweasel wrote: »

To drive from Calais in France through Belgium to Amsterdam in the Netherlands you will legally need to carry the same chains as you legally need to carry in order to drive from anywhere in the UK to Folkstone to enter the Channel Tunnel.

you have far more experience of driving in france and all over europe than i do, and looking at previous posts you made re winter tyres you are up to speed on the use of winter tyres in europe

if you look on the internet the likes of the AA say in france "Carry chains and use them as dictated by local signs or road conditions."

this does not say it only applies when you are going into the mountains so it is easy to see where confusion arises

Iceweasel

force_ten wrote: »

you have far more experience of driving in france and all over europe than i do, and looking at previous posts you made re winter tyres you are up to speed on the use of winter tyres in europe

if you look on the internet the likes of the AA say in france "Carry chains and use them as dictated by local signs or road conditions."

this does not say it only applies when you are going into the mountains so it is easy to see where confusion arises

You are absolutely right about the ambiguity of the advice found on most motoring sites.

France only has a recommendation to have winter tyres for snow covered roads and to carry and fit chains when the signs say so.

What they don't say is that those signs are only to be found in the mountains - usually en-route for ski-resorts or on high Alpine passes.

You certainly wont find any within several hundred miles of the region of Nord Pas de Calais.