by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Roads Minister Mike Penning said: “The Highways Agency is ready for winter, but the experience of recent winters is that we must all play our part and be prepared. A few very simple steps taken now, such as putting together a severe weather emergency kit for your car, can reduce the risk of being caught out by the weather.
“Not every journey is essential in severe weather, but if you really must travel in the worst conditions, check your vehicle before you set out; take a severe weather emergency kit; check traffic and weather conditions and always plan your journey. For more information and advice I’d urge all drivers to make time for winter and visit the Highways Agency’s website, where there are lots of tips to help keep winter journeys safe and trouble free.”
The Highways Agency is well prepared for winter, with a fleet of 500 state of the art winter vehicles on stand-by, supported by tried and tested winter resilience plans. The Agency has reviewed salt stock levels, and started this winter period with stocks of more than a quarter of a million tonnes – 25% more than at the same time last year.
As well as snow and ice, strong winds, heavy rain and thick fog can affect journeys in the winter season. Met Office weather forecasters based at the Highways Agency’s National Traffic Operations Centre will provide information on weather conditions across the motorway and trunk road network.
Alyson Bedford, Head of Government Business at the Met Office, said: “We work closely with Highways Agency throughout the year and during the winter period our forecasters work with Highways Agency staff to provide them with the very latest weather forecasts. When making any journey always make sure you check the weather forecast for the latest weather information.”
While the Highways Agency may be ready for winter, and the councils too, with grit and all that at the ready, the majority of motorists, unfortunately, are not.
It is simply criminal that drivers in Britain do not have to consider, by law, that they have to have different tires on their vehicles in winter than in summer.
In other countries of the EU, such as the Scandinavian ones, Germany, Netherlands, etc., it is a legal requirement by November to have winter tires, often referred to as “mud & snow” tires on their vehicles. And, in the event of serious snow it is legal requirement to have snow chains on board and being able to fit those as well. And, yes, there are still weather-related accidents even in those countries.
I am sure that in the UK we could, however, reduce our rate of winter accidents if motorists would make time for winter and also be prepared.
Making time for winter means driving at an appropriate speed, leaving a bigger gap between the car in front and also not jumping into a gap left by another motorist for that purpose.
Time and again when winter arrives, even just with banks of fog, there are multiple pile ups (and yes, they also happen in other countries for, it would appear, the majority of drivers behave like idiots) simply because drivers did not adjust their speeds to the weather.
Make time for winter and its weather...
© 2011
