This article reports research carried out in Norway to determine the effect of the use of studded tyres on the accident rate in winter conditions. Concern had been expressed about the road damage and environmental pollution caused by the use of studded tyres, especially in cities. Analysis of daily accident results in four Norwegian cities showed that studded tyres reduce accidents on winter days without snowfall, but result in more accidents on days with snow or frost. This is understood to be caused by driver behaviour: slower driving in snowfall conditions with unstudded tyres, and adaptation to the circumstances causing an increase in speed by drivers using studded tyres. The average speed of road users was dependent on the level of studded tyre use.
Abstract