Road Safety Advice

Tips for pedestrians and drivers in snow and ice:

The following is some advice and guidelines to help prevent slips, trips or falls while walking on ice or snow.

Wear footwear with good grips and traction
Take short steps or shuffle for stability
Don’t walk with your hands in your pockets
Take extra care on steps or inclines
Avoid walking on the road or street
Don’t cross between parked vehicles
Use controlled crossings where provided
Be Bright – Wear Bright – Be Visible

Tips for drivers before and during journeys:

While the council’s grit or salt many roads in the county, the crews are restricted in how many and what road types are treated. Although a road may have been gritted, this doesn’t necessarily mean you should drive in the same manner as if it was a dry road. Driving on all roads in these conditions should be treated with extra care and caution, regardless of whether the road was treated or not.

Clear your vehicle of all snow, frost or ice. (This includes the windscreen, rear and side windows, front and rear lights and indicators.)
Remove any snow from the roof of your vehicles as this is likely to fall forward when thawed or if you break, resulting in snow blocking your vision.
Its always a good idea to have your windscreen washer dispenser full or topped up in these conditions. Tip: Fill up your windscreen water bottle the evening before, so you don’t need to do it the following cold and frosty morning!
Ensure your vision is clear from all sides
Drive over any ice or compacted snow carefully and be more aware of your stopping distances.
Driving slowly in a high gear will help your tyres maintain grip even as your tyres move over the compacted ice or snow. Accelerate and brake very gently and drive particularly slow on bends.
Avoiding sudden stops or severe turns of the steering wheel.
Approach junctions slowly, allowing you enough time to stop without skidding.
In heavy falls of snow or dense fog, its an idea to wind-down your window and listen for any oncoming traffic before you move from a junction.
Don’t drive so close to the vehicle in front, or ‘on their tail-lights’, as this gives you a false sense of security, reduced space and visibility and if the driver ahead breaks suddenly, you have nowhere to go! Increase your distance from the vehicle in front.
Always use dipped headlights.