Do we have to have a fire extinguisher? Are spare bulbs mandatory? What about a spare tire – my car doesn't have one at all? And the ignition cables? We'll solve these doubts.
Do we have to have a fire extinguisher? Are spare bulbs mandatory? What about a spare tire – my car doesn’t have one at all? And the jump leads? We’ll solve these doubts.
Reflective vest?
Mandatory. The law says that if you’re on the road, outside your vehicle, you must wear a reflective vest. This vest should be handy, so you can grab it and put it on in the car, rather than keeping it in the trunk and having to get out and look for it under some bags.
Warning triangle?
Mandatory. If your car breaks down and you are forced to stop on the road, especially in an inconvenient/risky place or in conditions of poor visibility, you must:
first turn on all four turn signals
wear a reflective (light-reflecting) vest
place a triangle behind the vehicle
The law states that a triangle must be placed:
when a driver is forced to stop their vehicle in a place or part of the road where stopping and parking are prohibited (e.g. in a tunnel, on a bridge or overpass, on a curve, on a road where the lanes are physically separated, unless permitted by a traffic sign...)
when the vehicle is stopped on the road in such a place that drivers of vehicles moving in the same direction cannot or cannot see it in a timely manner
on a road outside a settlement, as well as on a road in a settlement at night or in conditions of reduced visibility when the place where the vehicle is stopped is insufficiently lit
Therefore, it is very useful to have a triangle at hand, so that you can place it as soon as possible outside a settlement on distance of not less than 50 meters, and in a settlement at a distance of not less than 10 meters.
So – all four turn signals, a vest, a triangle. This is determined by law, but also by common sense.
First aid?
Mandatory. First aid equipment - a size "B" first aid kit, which complies with the SRPS Z.B2.001 standard. First aid equipment must be located in an accessible place.
Spare wheel
Mandatory - UNLESS you have run-flat tires or some means for temporarily repairing a punctured tire - spray or foam in a pressurized bottle, a repair kit, etc.
A spare wheel was mandatory under the old Traffic Safety Act, even when newer cars that were originally designed not to "carry" a spare wheel were widely used on our roads, but had a kit for repairing a punctured tire or run-flat tire. Of course, no one checked this illogicality, but it was corrected by amendments to the Law, so today you do not have to have a spare wheel in your car if you use run-flat tires or some means for temporarily repairing a punctured tire - spray or foam in a pressurized bottle, repair kit, etc.
Jack
Not mandatory. However, if you are changing a wheel, how will you lift the car?
Cable (or rope) for towing a vehicle?
Mandatory. As stated in Article 112 of the Regulation on the classification of motor vehicles and trailers and technical conditions for vehicles:
"A rope or lever for towing a vehicle, which must enable towing the vehicle at a distance of 3 m to 5 m when using a rope, or up to 3 m when using a lever, must be present, in an accessible place, in passenger cars manufactured, or first registered after January 1, 1984."
Winter tires?
Mandatory from November 1st to April 1st – BUT ONLY if there is snow, ice or slush on the road. You must have all four winter tires, not just on the drive axle. The tread pattern must be at least 4 millimeters deep.
Snow chains?
Mandatory under the following conditions - you must have chains or other means of increasing traction (e.g. snow socks) in the trunk from November 1st to April 1st, but only if there is snow and ice on the road and only when driving outside the city.
European accident report?
Mandatory.
Spare bulbs?
Not mandatory. They used to be, but they are no longer mandatory, since on many newer cars changing a bulb is too complicated to do somewhere on the side of the road. However, we recommend that you always have spare bulbs.
Fire extinguisher (fire extinguisher) - PP apparatus
Not mandatory. However, we recommend having one in your car.
Jump starter
Not mandatory. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to have them, as they may come in handy at the most inconvenient time.
Abroad
When traveling abroad, familiarize yourself with the mandatory equipment of the country you are going to or passing through. You may need to bring a spare pair of glasses, such as for Greece or Spain. In Croatia and Slovenia, spare bulbs are mandatory (except for xenon). A fire extinguisher is mandatory, for example, in Greece, Bulgaria and Hungary. We do not know how strictly or if such items are checked at all, but just in case, check and bring what is officially stated.
