Legislative amendments prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, approved by the Parliament, the purpose of which is to ensure road traffic safety, will come into effect on January 1, 2024.
According to the changes, from December 1st to March 1st, it will be mandatory to drive on certain sections of the road with winter tires for vehicles.
In addition, taking into account the meteorological conditions, the police may impose a requirement to attach an anti-slide chain at least on the driving wheels of the vehicle.
The appropriate characteristics of winter tires and anti-slide chains and the procedure for determining their compliance with the mentioned characteristics were approved by the Government of Georgia by resolution.
The resolution also approved the list of places/road sections where it will be mandatory to drive vehicles with winter tires and/or anti-slide chains during winter.
A winter tire must meet the following criterias:
The symbol - snowflake must be marked on the tire.
The tire tread depth should be:
- not less than 3 mm. - for cars (M1) and trucks (N1, N2, N3);
- not less than 4 mm. - for minibus (M2) and bus (M3);
10 years must not have passed since the tire was manufactured;
It must be possible to read the date of manufacture on the tire;
For buses (M3) and trucks with a total weight of more than 3.5 tons (N2, N3), it is allowed to drive with winter tires that do not have the symbol - snowflake. In this case, the unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is authorized to impose the requirement of fixing at least one anti-slide chain with appropriate characteristics on all eyes of the driving wheel for the above-mentioned categories of vehicles.
The anti-slide chain must be factory made, suitable for the tire size of the vehicle and suitable for use on snow/ice covered road surfaces.
Anti-slide chains should only be used on roads covered with snow and/or ice.
- If the winter tire and/or the anti-slide chain do not comply with the established requirements, the policeman has the right to prohibit the person from entering the place/road section defined by the decree.
- If the winter tire and/or anti-slide chain does not meet the established requirements and the movement of this vehicle poses a danger to road traffic participants, the person may be temporarily deprived of the vehicle and placed in a protected parking lot.
In case of non-compliance with winter tire and anti-slide chain requirements, a person will be fined with 100 GEL and the number of points assigned to the driver's license will be reduced by 5.
For detailed information on the proper characteristics of winter tires and anti-skid chains, as well as a list of places/road sections where winter tires and/or anti-slide chains will be mandatory for vehicles during winter. View the following link: https://www.matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/6040563?publication=0
