The NZ Transport Agency has teamed up with Auckland Transport to better understand how to create skid resistant roads.
Skid resistance is important for safe driving, but can be affected by many factors. Worn tyres will significantly reduce the vehicle’s grip with the road surface and road surface conditions, for example a slippery wet road, will also contribute to the amount of control drivers have.
Realising further work was needed to better understand how to ensure wet roads provide the maximum possible resistance to skidding, Auckland Transport and the Transport Agency’s Pavements team have worked together to develop a joint strategy on managing skid resistance on all types of roads - from multilane highways to quiet suburban streets.
The Transport Agency’s National Manager Pavements John Donbavand says “Managing skid resistance is a vital part of the Safe System approach to reducing death and serious injury on our roads. Latest research shows a direct relationship between increased skid resistance and a reduction in deaths as a result of crashes.”
John says we have already seen a downward trend in the number of deaths as a result of crashes on wet roads due to the increasing knowledge of how to create and maintain a skid resistant pavement.
Now we are looking to share this knowledge with our roading partners by using what we have learnt to assist local authorities to develop strategies to increase skid resistance on their roads.
You can find out more about the safe system approach on the Safer Journeys website(external link).
