Although speeding as the primary cause of many accidents is generally agreed, it is accepted that greater road surface friction is of importance in the prevention of accidents and resulting damage. The work described, carried out by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in co-operation with Norsemeter, is aimed at winter conditions as well as new and repaired pavements. Friction requirements must reflect standards laid down for safety in relation to traffic density and speed level as well as braking systems, tyre performance and current road surfaces. Road friction measuring equipment known as SALTAR is described which can be used without braking the accompanying vehicle. The robust device is able to operate under winter conditions, at any speed, to give continuous measurements, and can be connected to a computer or data logger for further processing of measurements.
Abstract