Local authorities are spending less time gritting winter roads. This is according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to UK councils last year.
The average number of days each council spent gritting roads fell from 74.0 to 52.5 between the winters of 2017/18 and 2019/20. That’s a 29 percent reduction.
This is despite the freezing temperatures in the winter of 2018, when the country was hit by the ‘Beast from the East’. The country is currently in the grip of another cold spell, as Storm Darcy brings heavy snow and ice. Large parts of the UK are blanketed in snow, leading to hazardous driving conditions.
Experts are calling it the ‘Beast from the East Two’. Met Office meteorologist Steven Keates told the BBC: “I think so. The air mass is not quite as cold as it was then, so it’s not quite as extreme, but nonetheless this is probably the coldest weather we’ll see across the UK as a whole since then.
“And if you’re stepping outside at all through the next few days, it really is going to feel cold. Temperatures [will be] barely above freezing on a thermometer, and when you factor in a strong easterly wind, you’ll be feeling many degrees below freezing.”
‘Difficult weather conditions’
The FOI, submitted by Citroen, found that gritters are most active in the north of the country, with Scottish Borders Council spending 203 days of the year on average gritting the roads. Heading south, Northumberland County Council spent 144 days with the gritters out.
Eurig Druce, managing director of Citroen UK, said: “Driving during the winter months is more of a challenge with shorter daylight hours and difficult weather conditions making the roads more dangerous. As a brand, we are committed to providing customers with cars that are safe and easy to drive, which is why our models offer a range of driver assistance systems including Grip Control with Hill Descent Assist, for added peace of mind.”
Grip Control is available on selected Citroen and Peugeot models. It comprises an intelligent traction control system and special Mud & Snow all-weather tyres. The driver can select a mode to suit the terrain and conditions, as well as disconnecting the ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) at speeds of up to 31mph.
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