This sign is encountered at the ends of road sections with steep gradients or tight curves on which, when the carriageway is covered with snow, ice or black ice, it is mandatory for the vehicles to be equipped with anti-skid chains on at least two driving wheels. The obligation is valid regardless of the maximum authorized total mass of the vehicle.
The sign “Chains for snow” is accompanied by the additional panel “Black ice, ice, snow”. It may also be accompanied by the additional panel “The category of motor vehicles to which the sign refers” to specify for which category of motor vehicles the meaning of the sign is mandatory.
We must take into account that the road legislation, through Article 148, point 14 of the Regulation, obliges the drivers of motor vehicles with a maximum authorized total mass greater than 3.5 tons to equip these motor vehicles with winter tires on the wheels of the traction axle/axles or, in the absence of winter tires, with chains or other certified anti-skid equipment. It is important to remember that this legal article leaves, as a choice, two options, either winter tires on the wheels of the traction axle/axles, or chains or other certified anti-skid equipment applied on the summer tires. However, the sign “Chains for snow” leaves no option, it obliges the fitting with chains for snow, regardless of whether the tires are summer or winter tires.
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