November the 14th, 2024 – Croatian winter road regulations are set to come into force tomorrow. Here’s what you need to know in order to avoid a fine.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, on Friday, November the 15th, Croatian winter road regulations will come into force. That means that winter equipment on personal vehicles will become mandatory. If you have not equipped yourself with winter tyres in time, you’ll be fined if caught. Given that Croatian police and camera presence on the roads is now at an all time high, you’ll definitely be caught, so don’t risk it.
Winter conditions usually occur when the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius. Below that temperature, summer tyres lose their elasticity as well as their adhesion properties to the surface. Summer tyres used on top of snow are extremely dangerous, since the stopping distance is extended in such conditions.
At a temperature of -10°C, a car with summer tyres at a speed of 60 km/h will stop only after 55 metres, while a car with winter tyres on will stop after 44 metres. It’s a difference of 11 metres that can save your life, the lives of passengers, and the lives of pedestrians and animals. At lower temperatures, the braking distance is even longer, as reported by HAK (Hrvatski Auto Klub/Croatian Car Club).
As far as Croatian winter road regulations are concerned, winter equipment is mandatory on sections of public roads from November the 15th until April the 15th. The mandatory use of winter equipment applies to all types of motor vehicles, regardless of the current weather conditions or road conditions, with the exception of vehicles belonging to the Croatian Armed Forces.
