<div class="htmlview paragraph">Studded tires are used on nearly all vehicles in cold and snowy regions in Japan. This has become a pollution problem because the tire studs grind paved road surfaces. The large volumes of dust that are generated present a health problem and worsens the environment in general.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Civic organizations are using the courts to try to enforce a ban on studded tires. However drivers are uneasy about safety with studless tires and are against a ban on studded tires.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">In January and February of 1987 and 1988 the City of Sapporo conducted training program for safe driving under winter conditions, attracting 3000 drivers to 3 hours of training in braking and hill driving techniques.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">As a result of the program a number of approaches to the future propagation of studless tires is being considered</div>