Gritting teams ready to swing into action when needed

Worcestershire County Council is urging motorists to take care on the roads as the County Council's fleet of gritters and crews are ready and waiting to swing into action when needed.

Teams have been out when required since mid-October, as happens each year. They will not stand down until April to ensure they will be treating roads to keep them safe for road-users when temperatures drop.

Around 15,000 tonnes of salt was ordered ready for use – the most the authority has ever had. Despite national shortages during the last two winter periods Worcestershire never found itself with empty depots but the step has been taken this year to stockpile as much as possible to make the county less reliant on replenishment deliveries over the coming months.

A total of 12 gritters are also now equipped with latest technology that involves using a brine solution on salt before it's placed on roads, which helps it work quicker and cuts potential waste as more will be effective on the highway.

The authority has 31 vehicles, which will cover around 800 miles worth of designated precautionary routes (primary and secondary) during a typical night's work around the county. In addition all 1,233 grit bins placed in Worcestershire have been filled.

Finding out more about the gritting operations has never been easier thanks to improvements to the dedicated section on the County Council's website www.worcestershire.gov.uk/gritting

The site allows visitors to use interactive maps to follow the designated routes, pinpoint their nearest grit bin and report any problems the winter's harsh weather may bring via the web. It also contains guidance on clearing snow/ice from outside homes which, despite rumours, poses no legal threat to householders.

For the third year in a row 'Gritter Twitter' will make a return to keep followers updated with up-to-the-minute news on safety and what the teams will be doing when freezing weather hits Worcestershire.

To follow Worcestershire County Council on Twitter simply visit www.twitter.com/worcscc. As well as regular 'Gritter Twitter' tweets anyone following will receive information on other services the authority offers that may be of interest to them.

Cllr John Smith OBE, County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "We all appreciate the fantastic work the gritting teams carry out during the winter. A lot of the times we are tucked up in bed when they are busy out on our roads making sure highways are as safe as they can be when freezing weather bites. As with previous winters, I'm sure they'll do us all proud once again.

"This year we've got more salt in stock than ever before to try and ensure we're not as reliant on deliveries throughout the season, which, because of national shortages, didn't arrive as expected at times last year. The new technology using brine solution will also help our efforts.

"We are better prepared than ever before but it's worth stressing that grit has never been, or never will be, a miracle fix. Roads may have been treated but it's simply never safe to assume and drive at normal speeds during adverse weather. The message will always stay the same – be cautious on the roads when temperatures drop."

A new scheme that allows Parish Councils to purchase additional grit bins, which they will be responsible for, and salt supplies for use has also been introduced by the County Council.

The County Council advises anyone making a journey to take on this winter simple advice to ensure they are not caught out if the freezing conditions bite.

It includes:

Maintenance checks

Before you set off on your journey, do you have:

•           Anti-freeze in your cooling system?

•           Screen wash additive in your windscreen washers?

•           At least 1.6mm depth of tread and the correct air pressures in your tyres?

•           Clean lenses on your headlights?

•           Properly working heaters and demisters?

Making journeys

Planning your journey is vitally important in adverse conditions. Taking the following steps before you leave could prevent problems out on the roads:

•               Check the local weather forecast.

•               Check the driving conditions on your route with your local radio station

•               Take extra equipment with you, eg. mobile phone, spade, towrope, torch, flask, warm and highly visible clothing and spare pieces of old carpet to  place under your wheels for traction in case you get stuck in snow

•               Make sure someone at your destination is expecting you at a certain time.

Adjust your driving to the conditions

Driving on ice or snow needs extra care:

•               Use dipped headlights and drive more slowly than usual

•               Allow up to ten times your normal stopping distance

•               Keep your distance from vehicles ahead of you

•               To avoid skidding, brake very gently or ease off the accelerator early

•               If you have to abandon your vehicle try not to block the road; snow-ploughs, gritters and emergency vehicles may need to come past.  

•               Keep windscreens clean.

To keep up to date with the weather, forecasts are available from the Met Office by visiting www.metoffice.gov.uk/ and to receive regular updates tune into local radio stations

BBC Hereford & Worcester                104FM, 104.6FM OR 94.7FM

Touch FM                                          102.0FM

Wyvern FM                                        102.8FM

The Wyre                                           107.2FM

Further information about gritting operations is available at the dedicated section on the County Council's website www.worcestershire.gov.uk/gritting