Emergency Escape Devices.pdf

Recent large-scale vehicle strandings due to heavy snow have occurred in various parts of Japan, often requiring several days to rescue stranded vehicles and restore traffic flow. The main cause is the failure to install snow chains, as highlighted in the "Interim Report on Countermeasures for Ensuring Road Traffic during Heavy Snow" by the Winter Road Traffic Countermeasures Study Group in March 2021. To address this, road administrators are urged to ensure that road users install winter tires and snow chains according to snow conditions and regional characteristics. A survey was conducted to identify "emergency escape devices" that can be easily and quickly installed to help vehicles escape from snow. The survey evaluated the performance of various devices, including their ease of installation, escape performance, and economic efficiency. Seven devices were tested, including the "Iss Snow Socks" and "Ratchet-type Tire Chain". The results showed that some devices had excellent performance, such as the "Iss Snow Socks", which had a high escape rate and could be installed in a short time. However, the performance of other devices varied, and some had limitations, such as requiring additional tools or having limited applicability to certain vehicle types.