Winter - On motorbikes on roads...in white
Winter is coming and many two-wheel enthusiasts decide to retire to the comfortable life of the motorist, but someone, instead, shows no sign of stopping and continues to run the engine even during the cold season.
But with the arrival of snow it is important to be aware of all the laws and regulations of the road for circulation with snow and ice on the roads or during a snowfall.
The Highway Code (art. 6, paragraph 4, letter e) prescribes that, outside built-up areas, along the roads frequently affected by snowfall and frozen rain in winter, the owner bodies, or road concessionaires, may prescribe that motor vehicles, excluding mopeds (not microcars) and motorcycles, must mount winter tires or have chains on board.
In addition, the Directive of the Ministry of Transport of 16 January 2013 on "Road traffic in winter and in case of snow emergency" prescribed that the ordinances imposing the obligation of snow tires apply from 15 November to 15 April with a tolerance of one month to adapt (fit tires and remove winter tires) so the period extends from 15 October to 15 May.
During the period of time in which the obligation applies (15 November 15 April) mopeds and motorcycles cannot circulate if there is snow or ice on the roads and during snowfall.
If the conditions are met, the municipalities can adopt the same measures even within the inhabited centers pursuant to Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Highway Code.
Finally, the circular of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport n. prot. 1049 of 17 January 2014 provided a definition of the expression "seasonal reference period", i.e. the period of validity of the winter ordinances, i.e. from 15 November to 15 April. Vehicles fitted with M+S tyres with lower speed ratings have the possibility to circulate even one month before and one month after the period of validity of the ordinances, so as to be able to carry out the appropriate assembly and disassembly operations.
Another circular of the same Ministry, issued on 27 May 2016 (no. 12424-DIV3-C), reiterates what was already provided in an older circular (no. 103 of 1995), prescribing that mopeds and motorcycles can mount, in winter, M+S tyres with a lower speed code than that shown in the registration certificate, and up to a minimum of M (130 km/h), without having to modify the vehicle registration document.
In this blaze of laws and regulations what must be remembered above all is to be cautious and prudent in the presence of ice or snow because, no matter how much skill you have on your vehicles, the road is always unpredictable, especially when extra ordinary conditions occur.
