ABSTRACT
Ice and snow on the highway reduce friction between the tyre and the road surface. In areas where these phenomena are frequent and persistent the problem is often overcome by a combination of action by the road user (e.g. fitting special snow tyres), and preventive measures by the highway authorities (e.g. clearing snow or treating roads to prevent ice formation). It is in areas where the hazards are intermittent or occasional that the impact on traffic movement is often greatest. In such areas the winter maintenance of highways often involves considerable expenditure on manpower, equipment and resources in order to keep highways in a condition that is safe for road users. Typically this involves close co-operation between meteorologists, who are called upon to provide advance warning of dangerous conditions, and highway engineers who must be available to take remedial action.
