Skip to main content

Researching vehicle tyre safety

For the last two years a team of European partners has been examining the interaction between vehicle tyres and road surfaces. According to the UK's TRL, one of the partners in the European project Tyrosafe (Tyre and Road Surface Optimisation for Skid resistance And Further Effects), devices to measure skid resistance were developed at the forerunner of the UK's TRL in the 1930s.
February 15, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
The European Tyrosafe project has been examining the interaction between vehicle tyres and road surfaces
For the last two years a team of European partners has been examining the interaction between vehicle tyres and road surfaces.

According to the UK's 777 TRL, one of the partners in the European project Tyrosafe (Tyre and Road Surface Optimisation for Skid resistance And Further Effects), devices to measure skid resistance were developed at the forerunner of the UK's TRL in the 1930s.

"Now there are lots of different types of equipment in use across Europe and around the world. Unfortunately, they operate on different principles and give different results because of the large number of variables affecting road/tyre friction," says the TRL.

The results of Tyrosafe will encourage public authorities of EU Member States to use existing and new research knowledge, to reduce fatalities, and promote environmental compatibility of road surfaces.

"The main objectives of the project were to raise awareness, to coordinate and prepare for European harmonisation, and to optimise the assessment and management of essential tyre/road interaction parameters, in order to increase safety and support greening of European road transport," says Tyrosafe, which completed its two-year project at the end of June.

The project is a coordination action funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme and it consists of seven European partners (coordinator, the 2682 Austrian Institute of Technology; Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (1369 BASt), Germany; 2686 Rijkswaterstaat Dienst Verkeer en Scheepvaart - Ministry of Transport and Navigation, The Netherlands; 2687 Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute; 1364 Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories, Belgium; Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (1368 LCPC), France, and TRL.

"The most significant project outcomes are the recommendations for future policies concerning road surface properties, the Roadmap and Implementation Plan for Harmonisation of Skid Resistance Measurement Techniques, and the report on influences of road surface properties on skid resistance, rolling resistance, noise emissions, their interdependencies, and the investigation of their interaction with climatic change," says Tyrosafe.

"Environmental questions concerning noise pollution, air quality, and consumption of energy are becoming more and more important. Research has shown that road surface properties can be used to achieve increased safety and reduced environmental impact of road traffic. Drivers need sufficient grip between tyres and the road to accelerate, decelerate or change direction.

"With a sufficiently high level of skid resistance, the safety of roads can be improved and the number of accidents can be reduced."

The winners of the Tyrosafe video competition to produce a short video conveying the importance and raising awareness about the interactions among tyres, roads and safety were Gregor Salobir, Alma Muminovi?, Teja Pišek, Anamarija Repuši?, Karmen Vesenjak who produced TyroSafe-CARO Your Car and Road Science Lab.

Related Content

  • Scottish application for SMA surfacing technology
    May 20, 2014
    A new Scottish specification for stone mastic asphalt could help with some of the durability issues sometimes experienced in the UK An alternative specification for stone mastic asphalt has been used on the A90 in Scotland, with tests suggesting that the material will be more durable than thin surfacing produced under the standard UK specification, Clause 942 of the Specification for Highway works.
  • Smoother roads reduce emissions
    July 25, 2016
    Research reveals that smoother roads can help cut emissions of CO2. This has been announced following the release of the Communication on “A European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility” (COM (2016) 501) by the European Commission. This covers all transport modes but for road transport, the Communication includes proposals on optimising the transport system, low-emission alternative energy, and low- and zero-emission vehicles. Three associations active in road construction - EUPAVE (the European Concrete
  • New approach needed in Europe to help improve motorcycle safety
    August 22, 2012
    The European Commission is proposing that part of its controversial new Anti-Tampering regulations for motorcycles should be re-written to prevent custom motorcycle builders from using long-forks. This is the latest in a series of requirements in the regulations to attracted criticisms from motorcycle manufacturers, dealers, safety campaigners and enthusiasts groups.
  • Digital opportunities: Eurasphalt & Eurobitume (E&E) event, Berlin
    July 3, 2018
    Traditional players in the European bitumen sector need to grasp digital technology in all its forms to survive. Kristina Smith reports from the recent E&E conference in Berlin.