Abstract
This study quantifies a critical winter safety hazard caused by lateral heterogeneity of skid resistance: under non-uniform snow and ice removal, the friction coefficient in edge lanes and near barrier guardrails can be 2–5 times lower than in the central part of the carriageway, creating conditions prone to loss of control during braking and lane changes. Field measurements of friction coefficient and macrotexture were conducted on highways of different technical categories with asphalt concrete and cement concrete pavements in Kazakhstan’s continental climate. Long-term monitoring showed that, over three years of operation, texture peak height decreases by 22–33%, depending on traffic intensity and heavy-vehicle share, leading to a gradual reduction in friction. Predictive assessments of skid-resistance deterioration and braking distance calculations for passenger cars and heavy vehicles under different friction levels were performed. The results support the need for regular texture monitoring, explicit consideration of across-width friction heterogeneity in accident analysis, and targeted improvements in winter maintenance practices, particularly in edge zones adjacent to barriers.