Final Report Summary - TYROSAFE (Tyre and road surface optimisation for skid resistance and further effects)
Executive summary:
TYROSAFE was a coordination action funded under the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The TYROSAFE project started on 1 of July 2008 and lasted until 30 June 2010. 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. This coordination action did not only focus on the road surface but also on tyres and on the interaction between the road surface and tyres. Only an optimised interaction can lead to a high level of safety for drivers on the roads in European countries while ensuring the most positive greening effect, through reduction of CO2 output and noise emissions. The project provided a synopsis of the current state of scientific understanding and its current application in national and European standards. It identified the needs for future research and proposed a way forward in the context of the future objectives of European road administrations in order to optimise three key properties of European roads: skid resistance, rolling resistance and tyre / road noise emission. The TYROSAFE contribution in all these three areas helps particularly the public authorities of the member states to use existing and new research knowledge to reduce fatalities and promote environmental compatibility of road surfaces. In addition, the project also created a solid scientific background for further research and for the development of harmonised policies with regard to essential road surface properties.
The results of the project include a thorough evaluation of the role of the key road surface parameters skid resistance, rolling resistance and noise emission of road surfaces in the context of the European road transport system including their interdependencies and the interaction with the climate. TYROSAFE managed to provide an overview of the state of the art and of the remaining knowledge gaps to be closed, as well as recommendations for managing essential road surface properties. A possible way to the future harmonisation of policies and assessment methods was shown. The implementation of the proposed policies and systems will finally depend on decisions made by stakeholders in road transport like road administrations and transport ministries, which go beyond the scope of this project.
Common and compatible assessment management of road surface parameters in Europe will in turn provide more safety and reduced environmental impact. Wider implications are the reduction of accidents and the reduction of CO2, air pollutant and noise emission from road traffic. This will benefit both the European economy and the general public relying on road transport as an efficient, safe and ecologically sustainable transportation system.
TYROSAFE was a coordination action funded under the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The TYROSAFE project started on 1 of July 2008 and lasted until 30 June 2010. 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. This coordination action did not only focus on the road surface but also on tyres and on the interaction between the road surface and tyres. Only an optimised interaction can lead to a high level of safety for drivers on the roads in European countries while ensuring the most positive greening effect, through reduction of CO2 output and noise emissions. The project provided a synopsis of the current state of scientific understanding and its current application in national and European standards. It identified the needs for future research and proposed a way forward in the context of the future objectives of European road administrations in order to optimise three key properties of European roads: skid resistance, rolling resistance and tyre / road noise emission. The TYROSAFE contribution in all these three areas helps particularly the public authorities of the member states to use existing and new research knowledge to reduce fatalities and promote environmental compatibility of road surfaces. In addition, the project also created a solid scientific background for further research and for the development of harmonised policies with regard to essential road surface properties.
The results of the project include a thorough evaluation of the role of the key road surface parameters skid resistance, rolling resistance and noise emission of road surfaces in the context of the European road transport system including their interdependencies and the interaction with the climate. TYROSAFE managed to provide an overview of the state of the art and of the remaining knowledge gaps to be closed, as well as recommendations for managing essential road surface properties. A possible way to the future harmonisation of policies and assessment methods was shown. The implementation of the proposed policies and systems will finally depend on decisions made by stakeholders in road transport like road administrations and transport ministries, which go beyond the scope of this project.
Common and compatible assessment management of road surface parameters in Europe will in turn provide more safety and reduced environmental impact. Wider implications are the reduction of accidents and the reduction of CO2, air pollutant and noise emission from road traffic. This will benefit both the European economy and the general public relying on road transport as an efficient, safe and ecologically sustainable transportation system.
