UK: Highways Agency advice to drivers as severe weather returns
Snow is forecast for east and northeast England this afternoon, spreading south to central and some western parts of England on Friday. There are also likely to be severe overnight frosts in south east England.
The Highways Agency is working closely with Met Office forecasters based at the National Traffic Operations Centre to monitor conditions and our winter fleet will be treating motorways and other strategic roads around the clock while the cold weather continues.
Jason Glasson, of the Highways Agency´s severe weather team, said: "We are expecting a range of severe weather conditions over the next 24 hours, including the risk of freezing rain, snowfall and ice. Not every journey is essential in severe weather, but if you really must travel in the worst conditions, check your vehicle before you set out; take a severe weather emergency kit; check traffic and weather conditions and always plan your journey.
"Even when roads have been treated, pay particular care where conditions such as gradients, bends or overhanging trees might increase the risk of difficult driving conditions. Always drive with care in winter conditions, even after road surfaces have been treated with salt and are clear of snow.
"For more information and advice I´d urge drivers to make time for winter and visit our website, where there are lots of tips to help keep winter journeys safe and trouble free or follow us on Twitter @winterhighways."
Martin Young, Chief Forecaster at the Met Office said: "We are expecting some snow across parts of the country through this evening and into Friday. There is a risk of up to 10cm of snow in the worst affected regions. As a result there could be some disruption to travel. We advise people to keep up to date with our forecasts and information from the Highways Agency".
Drivers are advised to take care around spreading vehicles and vehicles clearing snow and only overtake if they can do so safely, without driving on un-cleared snow. Winter service vehicles are performing essential work to help keep roads open and may be travelling at low speed.
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/traffic or by calling 0300 123 5000. For information on weather conditions, visit the Met Office website www.metoffice.gov.uk or listen to local radio. Notes to editors
Issued by the Highways Agency. For further information please contact Mark Powell on 0121 687 4078 / 07776 466896. Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office (24hrs) on 020 7081 7443.
1.) The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England´s motorways and other strategic roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2.) For the Highways Agency´s advice to road users this winter, "Make time for winter", please visit www.highways.gov.uk/winter
3.) A severe weather emergency kit should include the following items - an ice scraper and de-icer, a torch, warm clothes and a blanket, a pair of boots, a first-aid kit, battery jump leads, a spade if it´s likely to snow, food and drink.
4.) Drivers of high-sided vehicles will be kept informed of strong winds or snowfall via the Highways Agency´s weather alert system. The system was developed in partnership with Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Road Haulage Association (RHA). Amber and red alerts will be communicated through radio bulletins and through the FTA and RHA membership network.
5.) Real-time traffic information for England´s motorways and other strategic roads is available:
* From the web at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device.
* By phone from the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 at any time. (Calls to 0300 numbers will cost no more than 5p per minute from a standard BT residential landline. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary, but will be no more than a standard geographic call and will be included in all inclusive minutes and discount schemes). Make sure it´s safe and legal before you call. Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency.
* On an iPhone app which will automatically select the region you are in. Free to download from the iTunes store or search for Highways Agency on your device.
* From Twitter - there are eight feeds with live traffic information provided by region. For information on roads in your region follow us at @HAtraffic_seast @HAtraffic_swest @HAtraffic_east @HAtraffic_wmids @HAtraffic_emids @HAtraffic_nwest @HAtraffic_neast @HAtraffic_yorks] or for the full index and map of areas covered, visit www.highways.gov.uk/twitter.
6.) 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.
Issued by the Highways Agency. For further information please contact Mark Powell on 0121 687 4078 / 07776 466896. Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office (24hrs) on 020 7081 7443. Contacts NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the issuing dept
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Reported by: NDS UK
Published on: 2012-02-09
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