Some 30% of Dutch motorists now have special winter tyres to help them grip to the roads better in snow and ice, the Volkskrant reports on Thursday.

Last winter’s heavy snowfalls prompted a sharp increase in the number of winter tyre purchases, even though the price can be up to €4,000 for four.
Winter sports fans have used special tyres for far longer; their use is compulsory in many countries including Austria and Switzerland, the paper says.
Traffic psychologist Gerard Tertoolen told the paper Dutch winters cannot be compared with others where the tyres are compulsory. ‘They also give drivers a feeling of safety which can lead to more reckless driving,’ he said.