This report documents a study by the commission of the Ministry of Transport and Communications from August 1988. The aim was to examine the possibility of substantially reducing pavement wear caused by studded tyres. The possibility of introducing a studded tyre ban on all or part of the road network and the consequences of such a ban were also to be examined. This report describes the effects of studded tyres on road safety and trafficability and also the effect of studded tyres on pavement wear. The costs to vehicle owners of using studded tyres have also been estimated as well as certain environmental consequences. Finally there is a general evaluation of the consequences of amended regulations. It is shown that a ban on studded tyres in the whole country would lead to the following consequences at different assumptions of increase in accidents on icy and snowy roads: 1) For a minimum estimated increase in accidents a decrease in public costs with about SEK 80 million; and 2) For a maximum estimated increase in accidents an increase in public costs with about SEK 530 million. Considering these figures, the conclusion from the investigation is not to recommend any general or regional ban on studded tyres. (A)
Abstract