Clarifications on the use of winter equipment (anti-skid chains)

Clarifications on the use of winter equipment (anti-skid chains)

From 1 October 2022, winter equipment will be mandatory each year during the winter period

New winter period: From 1 October to 30 April of each year.

From 1 October 2022, winter equipment will be mandatory each year during the winter period from October to April, at national and regional level.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport provides the following clarifications.

Based on the relevant Decision of the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, responsible for Transport, Mr. Michalis Papadopoulos, car owners have the obligation to equip their vehicles with anti-skid chains, or other similar anti-skid devices, such as chains and socks and snow tires (marked "M+S" only)

Winter equipment will be mandatory only when specific decisions are issued by the competent authorities (Police Departments, Traffic Departments, General Secretariat of Civil Protection), in accordance with article 52 of the Road Traffic Code, which provides that the prevailing weather conditions impose the drivers to take care of equipping the vehicles they drive with appropriate anti-skid devices.

Therefore, when the climatic conditions do not require it and since no relevant decisions have been issued by the above competent authorities, drivers do not have the obligation to carry the anti-skid devices in their vehicles.

In any case, however, they must know how to place and operate these devices, in order to ensure their correct use.

In particular, be careful of the following:

• Anti-skid chains are placed on both tires of the vehicle's drive axle.
• If the vehicle has motion on more than one axles, they are installed according to the instructions of the vehicle manufacturer.
• If there are no instructions and the driver only has one pair of anti-skid chains then these are fitted to the front axle
• If there is a second pair, they are placed on the rear axle at the same time.
• If the vehicle has dual tires on the drive axle (i.e. 4 tires on the axle) they are fitted according to the vehicle manufacturer's instructions or if there are none instructions, they are fitted on the outer tires of each side.
• The placement of the anti-slip devices must be done in a suitable and safe place on the road and all the necessary measures must be taken in accordance with the Highway Code (e.g. warning triangle, distance) for the safety of the driver and in order not to create problems in traffic of the other vehicles.

Also, with a newer Decision signed by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Michalis Papadopoulos, the issue of the mandatory provision of anti-skid devices in the case of rental cars is also regulated.

Specifically, it is stipulated that in the case of car rental, if the lessee requests the supply of anti-slip devices and his request is stated in the rental contract, the lessor company is obliged to provide the appropriate equipment.

Otherwise, and as long as it is not requested, this obligation does not exist.

Deputy Minister of Transport Michalis Papadopoulos stated:

"The change in climatic conditions requires all drivers to bring the necessary equipment for the safe movement of vehicles on the road network, in case of snowfall, but also to know their correct use. The relevant obligation is deemed necessary to promote road safety, but also to facilitate the movement of all road users. It is also reminded of the obligation of prospective driver trainers to include in the training program the learning of the process of installing anti-skid chains, as has been institutionalized, after all, by my relevant Decision".