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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

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Title:

The Effect of Studded Tyres on Journeys and Driver Risk Taking

Abstract:

The objective of the study was to investigate how drivers' behavior is changed when they start to use studless winter tires instead of studded tires. The study occurred over two winters from 1992 to 1994. Driving behavior was monitored through two identical instrumented cars. In addition to speeds, the computers in the cars registered the use of brakes and headways. During the first winter speeds of studless drivers increased especially in good driving conditions. However, on sharp curves drivers with studless tires slowed down more than those using studded tires. Moreover, on slippery secondary roads studless drivers were using brakes more softly than control drivers with studded tires. During the second winter the speeds of studless drivers returned to the "before' level when bothe the groups were using studded winter tires. Studless drivers were, however, still negotiating steep curves more carefully than control drivers. Moreover, the speeds of studless drivers were lower in urban areas than that of studded drivers. On averages, studless drivers were keeping headways 11 meters longer than control drivers. Study results suggest that changing to studless tires does not change speeds markedly. On the other hand, drivers using studless tires drive somewhat more carefully in difficult or demanding conditions.

Source(s):

VTT (Finland). For an electronic copy of this resource, please direct your request to WeatherFeedback@dot.gov.

Date: NA

Author:

Makinen, Beilinson, Rathmeyer, Wuolijoki

Keywords:


Speed
Pavement condition

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