UK Traffic Information - Travelling in heavy snow and icy roads
When a holiday is planned, flights and accommodation are booked, the worst that can happen is travelling problems due to weather conditions! This is what happened to a friend of mine, who is due to leave to the UK tomorrow! They had booked a car, but due to the weather conditions in the UK, they are having problems to travel. I suggested that they check the Highways Agency website, since there is updated live traffic information and also the Met Office weather website.
Snow has taken the UK by storm and heavy snow falls are causing widespread disruptions, and there were some days when even public transport had to be halted, and schools had to be closed for the day, whilst many travellers had to take the day off from work.
In the meantime, if you need to travel, it’s always best to check traffic information for your journey, as well as the weather forecast. Also, here is some advice which I found:
What to do when travelling in heavy snow and icy roads:
Before snow or ice
* If you have to make a journey when snow is forecast, make sure you have warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade, and let someone know when you expect to arrive and your route. Try to wait until the roads have been gritted before travelling
* Put grit or cat litter on paths and driveways to lessen the risk of slipping on compacted snow
* Check on vulnerable neighbours
During snow or ice
* Avoid travel if possible
* If you must drive check the Highway Code for advice on driving in ice and snowy weather. A summary of the advice is: Take care around gritters. Don’t be tempted to overtake. Slow down — it can take 10 times longer to stop in snowy or icy conditions, so allow extra room. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. If you start to skid, gently ease off the accelerator and avoid braking. If braking is necessary, pump the brakes don’t slam them on. If you get stuck, stay with your car and tie something brightly coloured to your aerial
* If you go outside wear several layers of clothing and keep dry to prevent loss of body heat. Watch out for signs of hypothermia — uncontrollable shivering, slow/slurred speech, memory lapse and drowsiness and frostbite — loss of feeling in and pale appearance of fingers, toes, nose and ear lobes. Keep moving your arms and legs to help the blood circulate
After snow and ice
* Be careful when walking or driving on compacted snow — it may have turned to ice
* Take care when shovelling snow. Cold air makes it harder to work and breathe, which adds some extra strain on the body and can be the cause of heart attacks in the vulnerable