Austria has tightened the winter equipment requirement for heavy vehicles. Drivers of trucks with an authorized total weight over 3.5 tonnes must carry chains with them from 15 November to 15 March. This also expressly applies to foreigners. This ruling only applies to omnibuses over five tonnes, public service buses are completely exempted. This Austrian law stipulates that chains must be available for at least one drive axle.

The Alpine Republic has also specified the snow chain design. A regulation similar to that of Austria applies in Hungary. Signs at the borders indicate when the obligation to carry snow chains is in force. Other countries have regulations requiring snow chains to be carried in specific regions. One example is the Aosta Valley in Italy, where even cars are only allowed to travel if they have these chains on board.

Furthermore, all countries put up signs stating that driving is no longer permitted without snow chains when weather conditions demand it. This then also applies to four wheel drive vehicles. In Germany, contravening this regulation costs 40 euros, if it causes an obstruction of the traffic this can cost 80 euros and penalty points on the driving license. The fines for not carrying snow chains in Switzerland and Italy start at 70 euros.

Source: rud.com