The aim of the project presented in this paper was twofold: (1) to study the effects for road user and maintenance organization when the use of deicing salt was reduced, and (2) to investigate the use of local and road specific weather measurements in the decision process concerning when and how the state of the roads should be surveyed and when winter maintenance work should begin. The research was conducted as a before and after study during three successive winters. The organization has been studied as well as the basis for "turn-outs". Furthermore, measurements of air and surface temperatures have been carried out. Registration of traffic accidents have been made at the town's hospital and with the use of police reports. Some of the results presented are as follows: (1) when the use of deicing salt is reduced the time of work operations is increased; costs have also increased (2) more accidents occur on days with slippery roads; no conclusion could be presented concerning safety effects (3) without the use of deicing salt, the state of the road network should be surveyed at an earlier stage (4) information from a fixed weather station in the town could be used in order to decide weather winter maintenance work should begin or not.
Samenvatting