GRITTING ROUTES 2008-2009

Download the 2008-09 Gritting Leaflet  (2.32 MB)

The Winter Maintenance Service

There are two main reasons for gritting Worcestershire’s roads – to minimise the danger to the public caused by hazardous driving conditions and to keep traffic moving despite ice and snow.

Roughly a third of the county’s roads make up the precautionary gritting routes. All ‘A’ roads are included, as well as busy ‘B’ and ‘C’ roads, and high-frequency bus routes are gritted to keep public transport operating. The Winter Maintenance Service also covers important routes for the Emergency Services.

The service is provided by Worcestershire County Council’s Winter Maintenance team and Ringway Highway Services, working together under the banner ‘Worcestershire Highways’.

When freezing winter weather is expected Worcestershire County Council’s gritting teams move into action to keep the county on the move.

Please note that the Highways Agency are responsible for Trunk Roads.

The People

The County Council’s gritters and their crews are ready to take action 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using the most up to date technology.

If the evening forecast is uncertain, staff take home lap top computers to obtain up to the minute forecasts through the night. The situation is reviewed and roads are inspected in the early hours of the morning.

The gritting fleet uses approximately 115 tonnes on each run, which takes no more than 3 hours to complete.

The Technology

Daily weather forecasts and a computerised ice prediction system uses information from roadside ice stations to get the most accurate indications of where and when ice is likely to form, and whether precautionary salting might be needed.

Salt works by turning the ice or snow surrounding each salt granule into a saline solution, which has a lower freezing point than water. The action of traffic is essential for salting to be effective – moving the slat granules around and eventually melting all the ice.

Getting to grips with winter driving

Useful advice from Worcestershire County Council’s Road Safety Unit

The first rule is ‘be aware’ – driving conditions can change very quickly during a typical British winter.

In severe weather the best policy is to stay off the road altogether. However, if your journey is essential, a few simple precautions and easy-to-follow tips will help to keep you and your passengers safer on the roads this winter.

Maintenance checks

Before you set off, 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 de-misters?

Making journeys

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

• Ask yourself if your journey is really necessary – if the answer is no, or not sure, then don’t go!
• Check the local weather forecast.
• Check the driving conditions on your route with your local radio station or local highways authority – see the contact numbers below.
• Take extra equipment with you, eg. Mobile phone, spade, towrope, torch, hot drink, 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 that someone at your destination is expecting you at a certain time.
• Ask yourself once again if your journey is really necessary – if the answer is no, or if you’re still not sure, then don’t go!

Adjust your driving to the conditions

Driving on ice or snow, and even on gritted roads, 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 and slow down in fog.
• 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 spectacles, sunglasses and windscreens clean – the sun is lower in the winter sky and can cause glare.
• Do not attempt to drive through deep flood water.

Warning

Extreme caution should be exercised at all times when driving in severe or adverse weather conditions irrespective of whether a road has been gritted or not – it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

The Facts

The Winter Maintenance team has a fleet of 31 gritters, 7 small demountable gritters and 2 small snow blowers.

Up to 12,000 tonnes of salt can be used in one full gritting season.

Over 1,300 of Worcestershire’s roads are treated in each full gritting exercise

Weather stations around the county measure road and air temperatures, wind speed, precipitation and humidity to predict the conditions.