The eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 in downtown Spokane were closed for three months this summer for long overdue repairs. The metal studs from tires had worn through the surface and, along with creating dangerous ruts, exposed the underlying rebar to water seepage. One-half of the $13 million project is done, and in a few weeks cars outfitted with studded tires will restart the cycle of gouging, ripping and corrosion.

This makes as much sense as running the furnace with the windows open.

Quite simply, Washington state cannot afford to continue to allow drivers to rip up roads without shouldering greater costs for repairs. The damage is estimated to be at least $10 million annually.

Studies, like the one posted at the Washington State Department of Transportation Web site, show that studs are highly overrated as safety features. Breakthroughs in technology have produced several types of winter tires that are as safe without producing dangerous, expensive ruts.

Only during those rare occasions when “glare ice” appears on roadways are studded tires clearly the superior alternative. The rest of the time studs are needlessly chewing away the state’s transportation budget.

An estimated 30 percent to 35 percent of Eastern Washington drivers use studded tires. Though most don’t need them, they do provide peace of mind for many drivers. However, the damage caused by studs should not be equally borne by drivers who safely negotiate winter conditions without them.

The Washington Legislature has considered outright bans and surcharges, but prohibition is too draconian and extra fees encourage drivers to buy tires out-of-state, which would be crippling for Spokane-area stores.

The best solution is to make drivers buy permits for studded tires. Just as drivers buy tabs for license renewal, they could purchase one-year or multiyear permits that would be visible to law enforcement. The revenue would be funneled into road repair accounts.

The hope is that permits cause people to reconsider their options as winter approaches. If they still want studded tires, they would pay for the inevitable damage they will cause. Permits would also ensure that cross-border commuters would pay their fair share for road repairs. Common sense dictates that drivers who were merely passing through the state would be exempted.

Washington state already has one of the highest gasoline tax rates in the country, yet the Department of Transportation struggles to keep pace with repairs. Before raising the gasoline tax again, the state should charge those who are doing the most damage to the roads.