Highways agency email
Date: March 03, 2005 Time: 13:45
HIGHWAYS AGENCY ASKS DRIVERS TO TAKE CARE WITH SNOW
Road users are being advised by the Highways Agency to take extra care when travelling this evening and tomorrow morning as snow and low temperatures are forecast in many parts of the country.
The Highways Agency has been gritting motorways and all-purpose trunk roads using its fleet of vehicles.
The Agency’s message to drivers is - All the Agency’s roads are open but must be used with care. All road users are asked to check the weather forecast and road conditions before they set out, and if the weather is bad, drivers are advised to delay their journey if possible until conditions improve. In severe weather, delaying a journey by a few hours could make the difference between a completed trip and a difficult drive in poor conditions.
The Met Office is warning that snow and black ice could be a major problem across central and southern areas on Friday, as weather fronts sweep south across the UK.
Temperatures through Thursday night are predicted to dip well below zero across a large area of the country. Rain and sleet will then increasingly turn to snow through Friday morning as bands of cloud spill southwards through the day. With snow or ice forecast, drivers are advised to be prepared with a ‘winter weather kit’ in their vehicle, including warm clothes, a hot drink, de-icer, a torch and a spade.
The Highways Agency’s gritting fleet will be treating England’s motorways and other strategic roads throughout the week when snow and ice are forecast. Maintenance teams will be gritting in advance of the cold weather, and will continue to treat motorways and other strategic roads throughout the cold snap.
The Highways Agency offers the following advice to drivers: - The British winter is unpredictable. If you must drive, make sure you are prepared for the bad weather conditions.
- Check local and national weather forecasts. Listen to travel information on radio.
- Make sure you’re equipped with warm clothes, food, water, boots, de-icer, a torch and spade.
- Take care around winter service vehicles. Don’t be tempted to overtake snowploughs by squeezing into partially cleared lanes. - It can take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions. Allow extra room to slow down and stop.
- Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking and acceleration.
For information about weather conditions:
The Met Office website -
Local radio broadcasts
and for road conditions:
HA website -
Highways Agency Information Line 0845 7504030
Notes to Editors:
- The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It manages, maintains and improves the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State.
Information about roadworks throughout the region is available from the Highways Agency information line on 08457 50 40 30 or from the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk
.
Issued by the Highways Agency South East Press Office. For further information please contact Cosima Duggal/Kate Woods on 01306 878442/8110
cosima.duggal@highways.gsi.gov.uk/kate.woods@highways.gsi.gov.uk
Out of hours the Highways Agency Duty Press Officer can be contacted by phoning 020 7081 7443.