The Mountain II law, or law for the modernization, development and protection of mountain territories, comes into force on November 1, 2021. As soon as it is implemented, motorists will have the obligation, in certain areas of mountain ranges in France, to to equip their vehicle with special equipment (winter tires, chains or snow socks) throughout the winter period, namely from November 1 to March 31. This law aims to reduce traffic jams and limit the risk of accidents on mountain roads.
Let's take stock of the Mountain law in 2021, its scope, its details and its consequences.
WHO DOES THE 2021 MOUNTAIN LAW APPLY TO?
The Mountain Law II applies to all motorists who drive in restricted zones. It applies to cars, but also to coaches, buses and heavy goods vehicles.
WHICH DEPARTMENTS ARE CONCERNED BY THE MONTAGNE II LAW?
In total, 48 French departments located in the different mountain ranges of the country (Alps, Corsica, Massif Central, Jura Massif, Pyrenees, Vosges Massif) are affected by the Mountain law:
Allier
Alpes de Haute Provence
High mountains
Alpes-Maritimes
Ardeche
Ariège
Aude
Aveyron
Cantal
Corrèze
Golden Coast
Dig
Doubs
Drome
Gard
Herault
Isère
Jura
Loire
Upper Loire
Batch
Lozere
Meurthe and Moselle
Moselle
Nièvre
Puy de Dome
Atlantic Pyrenees
Hautes Pyrenees
Eastern Pyrenees
Lower Rhine
Rhone
Haute Saône
Saône and Loire
Savoy
Haute-Savoie
Tarn
Tarn and Garonne
Var
Vaucluse
Haute Vienne
Vosges
Yonne
Territory of Belfort
South Corsica
Upper Corsica
The regulations relating to the Mountain Law do not apply to the entire territory of each department, but only to certain municipalities. Refer to the local page of the department in question to find out more.
The beginning and end of the areas in which special equipment is compulsory will be indicated by two new signs, respectively numbered B58 and B59.
WHAT PENALTIES IN THE EVENT OF BREACH OF THE 2021 MOUNTAIN LAW?
Driving in Mountain II law enforcement zones without mandatory special equipment exposes you to a class 4 fine, i.e. a fine of €135. In addition to the financial penalty, the absence of anti-slip devices on your tires increases the risk of a road accident, endangering other motorists as well as you and your passengers.
MOUNTAIN LAW 2021: AUTHORIZED SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
To drive on these mountain roads, motorists will have the choice of equipping their tires with removable or non-removable anti-slip devices. Are authorized within the framework of the Mountain law:
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- winter tires (snow tires) or 4-season tires identified by the 3PMSF marking (alpine symbol) on the 4 wheels of the vehicle
- snow chains or snow socks, at least on the two drive wheels
Tires which are only identified by the M+S (Mud and Snow) marking and not the 3PMSF marking are accepted until November 1, 2024.
So what equipment should you choose to equip your car in accordance with the Mountain II law?
Winter tires represent a considerable budget and must be fitted to the vehicle at a garage. While they may be suitable for users who drive every day on regulated roads, they are too restrictive for other motorists. They will therefore tend to turn to snow chains or snow socks, however, these devices do not allow driving on dry asphalt, and must therefore be removed and replaced several times throughout the journey.
To overcome this problem, Musher has developed premium anti-slip over-tyres , compliant with the Mountain law and the B26 panel, which allow you to drive on dry asphalt for 150 km and up to 50 km/h. Featuring optimal efficiency on snow and ice, they can be assembled and disassembled in less than 5 minutes to allow you to drive on mountain roads in complete safety and peace of mind.