Lincolnshire's gritting team braced to tackle our wintry roads
December’s cold weather cannot go unnoticed for motorists.
With temperatures dropping below zero vehicles have needed to be de-iced in the mornings, and journeys have seen roads lined with frost-covered trees a brilliant white.
Lincolnshire has avoided the snow so far, but it has still been a busy period for the county’s gritting team, who are out early and late to keep our roads as safe as possible.
To treat the majority of the county’s 5,500 miles of roads, nearly 30,000 tonnes of salt is stored across eight depots.
And any, or all, of Lincolnshire County Council’s 47 gritters will be heading out multiple times a day when needed to spread the specially-treated salt on the routes... including on Christmas day if necessary.
“We’re ready to get out whenever the temperature drops and the roads need the layers of salt to increase grip levels,” said Darrell Redford, LCC’s network resilience manager, who has 22 years’ experience of working with gritters.
“Our team is out in all hours to make the roads safer during the cold months ahead.
“Our drivers are very talented at what they do and we use a lot of science to work out when and where to spread the right amount of salt – the men and women of the gritting team plus that vital information is a combination that’s effective and efficient in keeping roads open in the worst conditions.”
It’s not jut this time of year when the gritters are needed.
A small county council’s named Spreaddie Mercury caught the headlines this summer when called upon to act in the heatwave. Filled with 2.5 tonnes of sand he was on hand to treat surfaces which exceeded 50C - the point where roads can melt and the surface become sticky.
But in the ice-cold winter blasts Spreaddie and the other vehicles can regularly be spotted on a street near you, reacting to data from the county’s 12 - and eight others beyond the Lincolnshire border - which predict what weather fronts are moving across the area.
Route-based forecasting is also used to determine which gritter to dispatch to which patch - needed when the county has to make best of a budget of £1.2m a year for salt.
Top tips to help you overcome the freezing temperatures this winter
Now the cold weather’s hit our county, there’s a good chance that we will see snow and ice build-up on paths and roads. The Lincolnshire County Council expert gritter teams are out in all hours to make Lincolnshire routes as safe as possible but there’s things that you can do too to ensure that the slippery stuff is kept to a minimum...
Good things to know if you want to clear snow from footways:
Do:
Work from the footpath at all times, and makes sure working towards the direction of oncoming traffic wherever possible
Put the snow on the verge or grassed area
Put snow on the edge of footways next to the road
Put sand or grit down on cleared areas for that bit more grip for those using the path
Use grit and salt sparingly
Do not:
Lift too much snow in one go – it’s deceptively heavy
Use hot water to melt ice or snow – it can refreeze to form ‘black ice’
Obstruct accesses or paths with the snow you shift
Use grit or salt from Highway grit bins on private property
Work when the weather’s too cold or rough
Remember, you DO NOT need to use a lot of salt to have an effect on ice. A teaspoon of salt per square metre will be enough to defrost ice patches.
When Working Outside:
Wrap up warm
Wear a reflective coat if possible
Wear stout footwear
Wear snow and ice grippers when walking – especially when pushing snow
Beware of hypothermia and the effects of wind chill
What the law says about clearing snow and ice from the Highway and Public Spaces
There is no law to stop you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your property, pathways to your property or public spaces. This includes both public carriageways and footpaths.
And if you’re working the land... here’s some useful tips for clearing snow off the road and paths
Do:
Use purpose-built machinery if you have it available
Skim the top of the snow off with a JCB/mechanical bucket to leave around an inch of snow, so that you do not damage the road surface, remove catseyes or come into contact with ironwork such as drain covers
Report any damage caused or found
Operate with dipped beam headlights at all times
Operate flashing/rotating amber beacons at all times
Place the snow on the verge or grassed areas
Keep in regular contact with your operating base, try to do this every hour at a minimum
Do not:
Scrape the road surface with a JCB/mechanical bucket
Obstruct accesses or footpaths with the snow
Take risks or be out of contact with your operating base
Vehicle operators and drivers should have and use:
Reflective jacket
Emergency food and drink
Mobile telephone or radio system
Stout waterproof footwear
Snow and ice grippers
If you’re driving then here’s good things to know about getting about in the slippery stuff...
It might sound obvious, but driving in the winter is a skill set all its own. The weather is likely to get bad and you could find yourself travelling more in the dark as the nights get longer. So, to stay as safe as possible, it’s best to adapt the way you drive.
Prepping your car
Make sure that your vehicle is in good, all-round order – that includes checking anti-freeze levels, battery charge, windscreen washer bottle is full and wipers are good. It is also a good idea to clean the car’s windows, too.
Tyre-wise, check pressures and treat depth (including the spare wheel if you have one). If your car doesn’t have a spare wheel, then make sure you have a useable can of tyre inflator onboard and easily accessible.
And make sure you’ve got plenty of fuel in the tank.
An emergency kit
It’s a great idea to have an emergency kit in your car at all times (especially on a long journey). It doesn’t have to cost much to put together, but it could really help you if you end up stuck somewhere.
A mobile phone that’s charged up is the first thing; tow rope, blanket, extra set of warm clothes, a torch, wellies, a shovel and food and drink are also advised.
A first aid kit is a great idea to have with you too – just in case.
Get proper prepped
If the emergency services are saying not to travel then avoid making the journey if at all possible.
But, if you can’t avoid going out, then listen to local and national weather and travel news for the latest information in the changing conditions.
Be flexible, allow yourself plenty of time, don’t rush and change your travel plans accordingly if you have to.
If you can, make sure that someone knows you’re travelling.
Tell them the route you’re planning on taking, where you’re going to and when you’re expecting to arrive.
Driving in the worst conditions... things to remember:
Slow down. In the slippery stuff it takes longer to stop your vehicle and there’s a higher chance of getting into a skid
Be gentle. No harsh accelerating, braking or steering.
Treat everything slow and calmly
Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front. You may need up to TEN TIMES the normal distance for braking.
