Comment

Representation ID: 11157

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Richard Carter

When it is suggested that many winter driving problems, especially those associated with heavy rainfall, ice and snow, can be overcome by the government passing legislation that requires allseason or winter tyres to be fitted to vehicles during the winter months (in line with existing requirements in Nordic and some European countries), a typical response is “the UK doesn’t have
enough snow to justify doing that”. This is despite the fact that, all too frequently, winter conditions are severe enough to induce panic and to practically bring the UK to its knees (the post New Year period in 2021 has been a prime example). If the reasoning behind making that response is examined, it can be determined that it is ill-considered because it is based on perception and
lack of knowledge rather than the following:
Most vehicles sold in the UK are supplied with summer tyres.
A vast majority of vehicle owners continue to drive on summer tyres in the winter months and/or in months where temperatures are known to fall to +7C (44.6F) or below.
At +7C, summer tyre compound begins to harden with the result that (source: https://www.continental-tyres.co.uk/ accessed 20/01/2021):
The tyre loses traction even when snow or ice isn’t present, e.g. in dry conditions or when it rains,
The tyre loses its ability to support acceleration,
Breaking distances dramatically increase,
The loss of elasticity makes the tyre more susceptible to cracking and chipping (which shortens its life),
Damage caused by low temperature use is not usually covered by tyre warranties.
Frequent gritting/salting; which eats into local authority budgets, is used in an attempt to improve driving conditions without considering that:
Authorities do not grit unless ice or snow conditions are forecast. Consequently, gritting will not reduce the incidents of seasonal aquaplaning or accidents caused
by wet or slippery roads,
Heavy snow and ice conditions invalidate the use of gritting,
Gritting will not improve how summer tyres perform in the winter. In fact, slushy conditions frequently make their performance worse.