Abstract
In part 1 factors contributing to road accidents in France, Federal Germany and the United Kingdom are discussed and the importance of good adhesion between tyre and road in an emergency are stressed. It will be assumed that most impacts are caused by the inadequacy of some person to anticipate or to react sufficiently quickly to the hazards of a particular moment. Part 2 discusses tyre design; durability and tyre properties and their effect on vehicle stability adhesion between tyre and road safety.