The Highways Agency, which operates the network of motorways and other strategic roads in England, does its best to keep the roads open when bad weather hits. Safety is the Agency’s key focus and we work closely with our contractors and the Met Office to ensure every effort is made to salt the roads and to give drivers up-to-date information about the impact of severe weather on the roads they are using. The Highways Agency has spent the summer preparing for winter.

Special exercises are being held with contractors, the police and emergency services to work through the most difficult situations we can expect to see during winter. The Agency is on full alert from October to April with a fleet of 500 salt spreaders, snowploughs and snow-blowers ready to spring into action when freezing temperatures or snow are forecast.

Drivers also have a responsibility. We recognise that by keeping road users informed with up-to-date travel information through a variety of channels, we can help them to plan journeys, avoid problems and minimise traffic delays. Motorways and other strategic roads will be connecting family and friends this Christmas and we plan to make their journeys as safe and as stress-free as possible.

Be prepared!

Preparation is the best way to reduce risk when travelling in winter. By taking a few simple precautions now – before the temperatures drop – drivers can be ready for unexpected changes in conditions. Snow, fog and a low sun can all greatly reduce visibility. It is important to ensure that vehicle wiper blades are in good condition and that all lights are in working order. Also make sure that windows and mirrors are clean and add a winter additive to the windscreen wash.

We must ask ourselves: “When was the last time I had my car serviced or checked my tyres?” A car in good working order is better able to handle difficult conditions. Drivers are advised to keep their batteries fully charged and ensure that tyres have the correct amount of air in them and have plenty of tread depth to navigate slippery roads.

We also advise that drivers should be prepared if something does go wrong. Keeping an emergency kit in the boot could save a life. It should contain an ice scraper and de-icer; torch; warm clothes and a blanket; food and drink; boots; first-aid kit; battery jump leads; and a shovel in case you need to dig your car out of the snow.

Planning your journey

Getting travel information to road users is a key priority for the Highways Agency. We encourage drivers to take advantage of the range of information services available to help plan the journey ahead. The Agency has invested considerably in these services in recent years, allowing drivers to receive accurate, real-time travel information via the phone, web and radio. There are now interactive information points at some motorway services so drivers can check their journey on the road while taking that all-important break.

The services work by compiling live data from thousands of road sensors buried in the road surface, combining it with information from the police, ports and airports, local highway authorities and other sources. As incidents happen, staff at the Agency’s national and regional control centres send out the information to the media; so live travel information is available from radio and television news.

Once on the road, drivers should also keep an eye out for electronic signs on motorways and some trunk roads. The signs give people information about any delays or changes in traffic conditions.

Keeping the roads open

The Highways Agency works round the clock throughout winter to keep England’s motorways and trunk roads open. Salt is spread to lower the freezing point of moisture, to avoid the formation of ice on the road’s surface. Traffic assists in this process by crushing the salt into the road surface to help dissolve it. Drivers should be careful not to get too close to salt spreaders as they throw salt across all lanes of a road. It also pays to keep a good distance from snowploughs, which can throw out large amounts of snow from either side. Drivers should not overtake snow ploughs unless the lane they intend to use has been cleared

On-the-ground assistance

Besides clearing the motorways of ice and snow, the Highways Agency, through its Traffic Officer Service, will be continuing to patrol throughout the winter months to offer help and support to drivers. There are now 1,112 uniformed traffic officers patrolling all 2,025 miles of England’s motorways from 33 outstations. They are supported by 299 control staff located at seven Regional Control Centres. This skilled team is there to keep traffic moving and make our motorways as safe and reliable as possible.

Our Traffic Officer Service has been a great success, with traffic officers attending over 1,000 incidents a day, helping those who’ve broken down, assisting in traffic management and helping to restore traffic flow after incidents. If drivers find themselves in difficulties, we advise that they pull over and call for help if necessary on one of the 6,500 emergency roadside telephones that are stationed alongside the motorways. Warm clothes and drinks (except alcohol) will keep the body warm while waiting with the vehicle. The safest place to wait is away from the carriageway and hard shoulder. We hope that readers make the most of this advice and our information services to ensure safe and happy journeys this winter.

Safety tips for driving when the weather is bad:

It may be warm and comfortable in your vehicle, but outside hail, snow, fog and heavy rain all make roads dangerous. It is important to change the way you drive to fit the weather.

Snow or ice

• It can take up to 10 times longer to stop when roads are icy rather than dry. Allow more room to slow down and brake.
• Use the highest gear that you can (for example, second gear rather than first). This will help avoid wheel spin that could cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
• Drive slowly, allowing extra time for braking.
• Avoid sudden braking, sharp turns, or sudden increases in speed.
• The best way to brake without skidding is to get into a lower gear earlier, let your speed go down and brake gently.
• If you do start to skid, take your foot off the accelerator. Do not brake suddenly.

Fog

• Drive slowly and use dipped headlights so that other vehicles can see you.
• Use fog lights if visibility is seriously reduced, but switch them off when visibility improves.
• Don’t drive too close behind another vehicle to follow their rear lights – this gives you a false sense of security and leaves less time to break if necessary.
• Avoid sudden increases in speed. Fog is often patchy and you can suddenly find yourself back in thick fog.

Rain

• It can take up to twice as long to stop when roads are wet rather than dry.
• Keep well back from the vehicle in front of you. This will allow you to see better and give you more time to slow down.
• Your tyres may lose their grip on a road that is covered with water and your vehicle will "aquaplane". If this happens, take your foot off the accelerator and slow down. Do not put your foot hard on the brake.
• Spray can make it hard to see. Slow down and keep your distance from other vehicles.

Floods

• Don’t try to cross floods if the water seems too deep. If you have to go through a flood, drive slowly in first gear to avoid stalling the engine. Keep the engine revs high and slip the clutch.
• Avoid the deepest water, which is usually near the kerb.
• After you have gone through a flood, test your brakes. Only drive your car at your usual speed if the brakes are fine.

Winter Sun

Dazzle from low winter sun can make driving dangerous.

• Make sure that your windscreen is completely clean.
• Wear sunglasses if they help.

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