--- title: "FIS rules: the 10 rules of conduct on the slopes, right of way, helmets and helping after an accident" description: "The FIS rules explained: the 10 rules of conduct on the ski slopes, who has right of way, where to stop, helmets in Czechia and what to do after an accident." url: https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/fis-rules-ski-slope-safety language: en-GB published: 2026-09-25 updated: 2026-09-25 publisher: "SKI Rental Jiří Honců, Valteřická 1436, 543 01 Vrchlabí, Česko" --- # FIS rules: the 10 rules of conduct on the slopes, right of way, helmets and helping after an accident There are no traffic lights on the slopes, but there are the FIS rules. We explain all ten, who has right of way, where to stop, how it works with helmets in the Czech Republic and what to do if someone gets hurt. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation, FIS, has drawn up ten rules of conduct for skiers and snowboarders. According to its official commentary, they apply to everyone, every skier and snowboarder must know and respect them, and anyone who breaks them and causes an accident may face civil and criminal liability. In Špindlerův Mlýn, in the Krkonoše (Giant Mountains), you even commit to respecting them when you buy a lift ticket, as the resort's transport conditions state. The rules are short and mostly common sense, but it is worth knowing them precisely. ## The 10 FIS rules in plain English Here are all ten rules as FIS worded them in 2002 and still publishes them today, shortened and in our own words: - 1. Respect for others: ski or ride in a way that does not endanger or harm anyone. - 2. Control of speed and manner of skiing: stay in control and adapt your speed and the way you ski to your ability, the terrain, the snow, the weather and how busy the slope is. - 3. Choice of route: if you are coming from behind, choose your line so that you do not endanger the people ahead of you. - 4. Overtaking: you may overtake above or below, on the right or on the left, but always leave enough space for the person you overtake to make any movement, even an unexpected one. - 5. Entering, starting and moving upwards: before you join a run, set off again after stopping or turn uphill, look up and down the slope. - 6. Stopping on the piste: avoid stopping in narrow places or where visibility is restricted unless you have to. If you fall in such a place, move clear as quickly as possible. - 7. Climbing and descending on foot: keep to the side of the run. - 8. Respect for signs and markings: all signs and markings apply to everyone. - 9. Assistance: at accidents, everyone is duty bound to help. - 10. Identification: everyone involved in an accident and every witness, responsible or not, must exchange names and addresses. ## Who has right of way on the slopes? The skier or snowboarder ahead of you, usually lower down the slope, has right of way. Anyone following in the same direction must keep enough distance to leave the person in front room for all their movements. Whoever overtakes is responsible for the whole manoeuvre until it is completed, even when passing someone who is standing still. That is how the official FIS commentary explains rules 3 and 4. Take care when you set off. According to the FIS commentary, joining a run and starting again after stopping are frequent sources of accidents. Once you are moving again, even slowly, you have right of way over faster skiers coming from above. Carving skis and snowboards also let you turn uphill, against the flow of everyone else, and then too you must look up in good time. > **Tip from the shop:** According to FIS, collisions usually happen because someone is going too fast, is out of control or fails to see others. Slow down wherever it is busy or visibility is poor: at the edge of a steep slope, at the bottom of a run and around lifts. ## Where to stop and what to do after a fall Except on wide runs, stop at the side of the piste. Never stop in a narrow place or where people above cannot see you, such as below a ridge or round a bend. If you fall somewhere with poor visibility, get up and clear the spot as quickly as you can. If you have to walk on the piste, keep to the edge. People walking against the flow are an unexpected obstacle, and footprints damage the groomed run. ## How runs are marked in the Czech Republic Czech ski areas mark their runs according to the Czech technical standard ČSN 01 8027 on marking and safety in winter resorts, which the transport conditions in Špindlerův Mlýn also refer to. The colour shows the difficulty: - Blue: easy run, the gradient must not exceed 25 %. - Red: intermediate run, the gradient must not exceed 40 %. - Black: difficult run, steeper than an intermediate one. Which run you choose is up to you. Closed runs and warning signs, however, must always be respected, and FIS points out that they are there in your own interest. ## Helmets, equipment and alcohol Czech law does not require a helmet, but the Czech Ministry of the Interior recommends one for children and adults, and so do we. Whether a particular ski area requires one, you will find in its operating rules. The FIS commentary on rule 1 points out that skiers are also responsible for the consequences of defective equipment, which is why correctly adjusted bindings matter. And alcohol? The Czech Ministry of the Interior advises avoiding it during a day on the slopes. [Ski binding settings: why leave them to a professional](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/ski-binding-din-setting) ## If an accident happens Assistance is rule number 9, and according to the FIS commentary it means first aid, alerting the rescue services and marking the place of the accident. In practice: - Stop by the injured person and mark the spot above them so that others can see it in time, for example with skis crossed and stuck in the snow. - Call the Czech mountain rescue service, Horská služba, on its non-stop emergency number +420 1210, or the European emergency number 112. - Describe where you are: the ski area, the run and what you can see around you. - Give first aid as well as you can and stay with the injured person until help arrives. - Everyone involved and every witness exchanges names and addresses. As a witness, you help establish what happened. What to do next, who pays for a mountain rescue call-out and why insurance matters are covered in a separate article. [Accidents in the mountains: rescue service, emergency numbers and insurance](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/mountain-rescue-czechia-ski-accident-insurance) ## Safety starts with the right gear At our shop in Vrchlabí, we choose ski length based on height, weight and experience and adjust the bindings to each customer's weight. We check, sharpen and wax every item after it comes back. We also rent helmets and goggles separately, so you can add them to a set or use them with your own skis. You can book online at the latest the day before and pick everything up on your way to Špindlerův Mlýn. [Book gear and a helmet](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/booking) [Everything we rent](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/ski-rental) ## Frequently asked questions ### Who has right of way on a ski slope? The person ahead of you, usually lower down the slope. Anyone coming from behind must choose a line that does not endanger them and keep enough distance. ### Are the FIS rules legally binding in the Czech Republic? They are not a separate law, and the Czech Ministry of the Interior describes them as recommendations. In Špindlerův Mlýn, however, you commit to respecting them when you buy a lift ticket. According to FIS, anyone who breaks them and causes an accident may face civil and criminal liability. ### Is a ski helmet compulsory in the Czech Republic? Czech law does not require one, but the Czech Ministry of the Interior recommends it for children and adults. Whether a particular ski area requires a helmet, you will find in its operating rules. ### What should I do if I see an accident on the slopes? Stop, mark the spot above the injured person, for example with crossed skis, and call Horská služba on +420 1210 or the emergency number 112. Give first aid as well as you can and leave your contact details as a witness. ### Where can you stop on a ski slope? At the side of the run, or on a wide run wherever others can see you well. Do not stop in narrow places or where visibility is poor, such as below a ridge or round a bend. --- SKI Rental Jiří Honců · Valteřická 1436, 543 01 Vrchlabí · +420 603 554 947 · skihoncu@gmail.com - [Book now](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/booking) - [Prices](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/prices) - [All guides](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides) Other languages: [Čeština](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/cs/pravidla-fis-na-sjezdovce.md) · [Deutsch](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/de/fis-regeln-pistenregeln-skifahren.md) · [Polski](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/pl/zasady-fis-dekalog-narciarza.md) · [Українська](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/uk/pravyla-fis-povedinka-na-trasi.md)