Winter tires, chains or socks: Failure to respect the law on mountain roads can also put the offender in “financial danger”. His insurance is entitled not to replace him in case of a problem or an accident.
Co-founder of Leocare, “the first multi-service neo-insurance”, Noureddine Bekrar answers questions from La Dépêche about the obligation of motorists to equip themselves with chains, socks or pencils winter in the mountain towns in question from November 1.
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CASE. Winter tires or chains mandatory: to avoid a fine of 135 euros, you must go out equipped from November 1
La Dépêche du Midi: What do you risk, on the insurance side, if you get into a traffic accident, in the mountains, this winter, but you don’t have the regulatory equipment on your vehicle?
Noureddine Bekrar: The spirit of the law is really the safety of mountain users, those in the vehicle as well as those with whom they share the road. From an insurance perspective, things are clear. If an insured does not have the right equipment and finds himself either in a blocked situation or in a damaged situation after an accident, the insurance is entitled to refuse to cover him. If we refer closely to the law, it is indeed guilty and the insurance companies will have every right not to take responsibility for the breakdown service or the cost of the damage.
Noureddine Bekrar
That is, repairs, mechanical or body damage and any damage to the user and third parties are not reimbursed, right?
That’s exactly it. In addition to the fine of €135 and the risk of immobilizing his vehicle, the user will therefore put himself in financial danger if he does not respect this law. However, it is important to remember here that the coverage of this assistance due to ice or snow in the mountains does not require additional costs for the insured. It is included in their contract as long as they comply with the law.
Professionals point out that it is also the lack of user training that poses a problem on snowy roads…
I agree. If someone is not used to these particular road conditions, they will have difficulties, but they will be compounded by the lack of equipment with a much greater level of danger and risk. The base is therefore equipped, but generalizing practical courses in the future would make sense.
