Rules in safety matters during non competitive practice of cross-country and descent winter sports.
The Law no. 363 dated 24.12.2003, published on the Official Gazette no. 3 dated 05.01.2004, regulates safety during non competitive practice of cross-country and descent winter sports.
It is an outline law drawing on and presenting the ten behaviour rules deliberated in 1967 by FIS (that is Federazione Internazionale Sci) in contemporary terms. These rules have been the only reference source in such a field for a long period of time: they deal with respect for the others, mastery of speed, choice of the direction, passing on the runs, ways of crossing crossroads and runs, breaks on the runs, the behaviour to keep while going up and down a skiing run, the observance of the system of signs and the attendance to the injured.
On the other hand, the duty to guarantee the help and the transportation of the injured across the runs falls on the administrators of those areas which, in terms of safety, must be held responsible for what the Regions have established. In other words, they have to attend particularly to the ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of runs as well as to the installation of the system of signs (as it is provided for by the Decree dated 20.12.2005 by Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti) showing both the presence of obstacles or dangers and the conditions of the bottom.
In case of danger or unfitness for use, the signals regarding the state of the run or its closing have to be placed clearly for people at the beginning of the run as well as at the valley stations of the transporting cable facilities.
However the concessionaire and the ski-lifts operator are not responsible for the accidents occurring out of the ski run courses even if the latter are served by the facilities themselves.
Furthermore, the Law contains new behaviour rules (summed up in the Decree dated 20.12.2005 named as “Skier behavioural handbook” issued by the Italian Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti) addressed to those people practising downhill skiing and snowboard, even if having fun safely and without hurting to the others has always been a matter of responsibility and respect.
- In particular, from 01.01.2005, children whose age is inferior to 14 years old must wear a protective approved helmet. Otherwise, the provided sanction is the payment of a sum from EUR 30 to EUR 150 and the sequestration of the non-approved helmet.
In general, the skier (or the snowboarder) has to keep a behaviour which, in relation to the run’s features and the environmental situation, is not a danger for the others’ safety. On the other hand, speed must be particularly moderate in those stretches where the field of vision is not clear, near buildings or obstacles, at crossroads and forks, in case of fog or mist or over-crowding or poor visibility, in the bottlenecks and in the presence of beginners.
As regards the right of way, the upstream skier must keep a direction allowing him to avoid collisions or interferences with the downhill skier. On the contrary, who is going to pass another skier must make sure that he has sufficient space and visibility. Passing may be made both upstream and downhill and both on the right and on the left but at a distance such as to avoid holdups to the passed skier. At crossroads, priority must be given to the skier coming from the right or according to the indications of the system of signs. In case of collision, until one has proof to the contrary, it is expected that each skier has equally taken a share in causing the possible damages. The person who decides to stop must move to the edge of the run and avoiding the fixed courses and the proximity to the rises and the places without visibility.
In case of fall or accident, the skier must clear the run in good time moving to its sides. Everybody is obliged to report the presence of an injured person. Whoever is in front of a person in trouble and does not give the necessary help or does not inform the operator at any station of the accident happened is liable to the payment of a sum from EUR 250 to EUR 1000, unless the fact falls on a criminal case.
It is forbidden to go along the runs on foot, unless there are cases of pressing needs and anyway keeping to their edges. On the other hand, it is forbidden to mechanical means assigned to the service and the maintenance of the runs and the facilities to enter them during their opening hours (of course, except for the cases of needs and urgencies but, anyway, they must always use the suitable light and sound signalling devices).
Finally, who practises ski touring must provide himself with the proper electronic systems to pledge an appropriate intervention for help where clear avalanche risks exist because of climatic and snow conditions.
Anyway, in addition to these instructions, the Regions and the Communes may take further regulations to assure safety and the best use of the runs and the facilities. The already current set of rules still holds in the Regions. However, during the intervention and security service at the skiing resorts, the new Law provides that the Carabineers Service, the State Police, the State Forest Corps and the Revenue Guard Corps as well as the local police forces will provide both with the control of the observance of the provisions of the law and with the infliction of the relevant sanctions to the defaulting users. The Law provides that the controversies related to the violation of the provision about the behaviour to keep on the runs occur on the skiing teachers’ signal as a rule.
www.carabinieri.it/norme di sicurezza sulla neve
For a safe holiday on the ski runs
Here are some pieces of advice to spend your holidays on the ski runs at your best and fully safe:
- always behave yourself in a cautious way;
- face only the runs suitable to your abilities;
- do not sky out of runs;
- if you are tired or have drunk too much, avoid skiing;
- use the ski lifts to go back downhill;
- at night frequent only the entitled facilities: at moonlight runs are not romantic but dangerous;
- follow the behaviour regulations for the snow users issued by the Italian Law dealing with the safety while practising cross-country and downhill skiing non competitively;
- the consequences of your unwary or rude behaviour may be serious for you and for the others;
- do not keep your valuables in your car and do not leave your skis unattended for a long time;
- if necessary, call 112. at good time.
For your own safety, there are patrols of Carabineers skiers.
www.carabinieri.it/vacanza
sicura in montagna
For further information:
Carabineers Service -
www.carabinieri.it
