Recent incidents of traffic chaos on Swedish roads, particularly on the E4 highway north of Jönköping and in parts of Västra Götaland, have sparked a heated debate among government officials, the trucking industry, and traffic authorities.

The primary cause of these disruptions is believed to be trucks equipped with worn-out tires, struggling to navigate in winter conditions, leading to extensive queues and, in some cases, forcing motorists to spend the night in their vehicles.

Despite regulations introduced in 2019 requiring all trucks to have winter tires on all axles, compliance has been inconsistent.

The trucking industry, however, deflects blame, pointing to a systemic issue of decreased snow plowing services amid doubled traffic volumes over the past 25 years.

The situation has prompted calls for a reevaluation of both vehicle preparedness and the efficiency of road maintenance protocols.