Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

03 December 2008 - Highways Agency advice to drivers as snow and blizzards are forecast

Drivers are being advised to check the weather forecast and road conditions before they travel overnight tonight (Wednesday 3 December) through to Thursday morning as snow and freezing temperatures are forecast for the North of England and across parts of the Midlands

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for Yorkshire and Humber, the North East, the North West and parts of the Midlands, with heavy snow, drifting snow and blizzards forecast overnight.

The Highways Agency, which operates and maintains motorways and major A roads in England is working closely with the Met Office to monitor weather conditions and maintain safe roads and reliable journeys.

The Met Office is forecasting a frosty Wednesday evening, before a band of rain and snow sweeps across the north of England and the Midlands overnight. Some heavy snow is expected, and will be accompanied by a southerly wind reaching gale force in places, giving drifting and significant accumulations of snow, especially on higher ground in the north. At lower levels in the north and in parts of the Midlands up to 2 cm of snow is possible in places before turning to rain and clearing by late Thursday morning.

Throughout Thursday morning the snow will be replaced by sunshine and scattered showers. The snow will begin to thaw and the wind will moderate.

All drivers are advised that the worst of the wintry showers could be affecting their journeys as they travel overnight and into Thursday morning.

Road users are advised to be prepared with warm clothing and an emergency pack, which includes food and water, boots, de-icer, a torch, and a shovel in case of snow.
Drivers are advised to plan their journeys before they set out, checking the forecast and road conditions, to leave extra time for their journeys if travel conditions are poor, and to delay their journey if the weather becomes severe.

It can take ten times longer to stop when it is icy, so allow more room to slow down and stop. Avoid losing control of your vehicle because of wheel spin, by using the highest gear possible. Avoid sudden braking, acceleration and sharp turns.
Listen to travel news on your car radio or tune into the Highways Agency's Traffic Radio, which is available on DAB Digital Radio or online at www.trafficradio.org.uk.

Up-to-date information on road conditions on England's motorways and trunk roads is available on the Agency website at www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo or by calling 08457 504030. For information on weather conditions, visit the Met Office website www.metoffice.gov.uk or listen to local radio.

The Highways Agency's winter fleet, including the new orange vehicles, will be out treating motorways and major 'A' roads. Drivers should take care around spreading vehicles and vehicles clearing snow and only overtake if they can do so safely, without driving on any un-cleared snow. These vehicles are performing essential work to help keep roads open and may be traveling at low speed.

End

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. Real -time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is now available:
• From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk  To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
• On the internet at www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
• By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115.  (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.
3. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time.  (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)

Receive our national and regional press releases by RSS and get the latest headlines straight to your desktop the moment we publish them to our website. Choose to receive a national press feed or one of our regionalised feeds - go to www.highways.gov.uk/rssnews for more information.

For further information please call the Highways Agency National Press Office on 0207 081 7443 (24 hour number).